After retail stores shuddered their doors to comply with public health restrictions, consumers were pushed online to find items and have them shipped to their doorstep.
This created-out-of-necessity business model helped the legal cannabis industry stay afloat during the pandemic, but it launched the beginnings of what has now become a permanent model, allowing cannabis companies to reach customers whose cities have not allowed cannabis stores to open with their borders—like Mississauga.
In many big cities, cannabis stores are taking over empty storefronts, with some neighbourhoods in places like Toronto seeing retailers occupying nearly every street corner.
“I get why they’re doing it, they definitely want more control in terms of store rollout and where the stores are located,” Ben Tran, owner of House of Cannabis in Toronto, told The Pointer.
Not a single one of these are in Mississauga, but surrounding the city, Brampton hosts 27 and Toronto has 315.
Storefronts became a thing of the past during the height of COVID-19, with restrictions placed on businesses and lockdown orders deterring visits from customers.
As of March 15, the province has ruled this model can remain permanent, allowing legal cannabis dispensaries to deliver their products anywhere in the province.
The biggest hurdle House of Cannabis and other businesses need to overcome is insuring drivers while transporting the goods.
To service Mississauga, Tran agreed the fastest delivery would always come inside the borders, but his business is attempting to reach residents in under two hours.
“In our pilot program, we’re hitting that , but with a small area.
“I think delivery does serve a need for accessibility.
According to AGCO’s website, all retail cannabis employees must complete a training program before their first day of work to support the sale and safe consumption of cannabis.
Some have a higher THC content, meaning they interfere with receptors and create a “high.” While most products are labeled with a percentage of THC first-time users buying online may not understand the full effects.
Legal stores need to have a storefront operating to allow for packages to be wrapped, and orders to be placed.
In March of last year, a report to the Peel Regional Police services board laid out the mountain of issues illegal cannabis continue to create for officers.
During the same period, police received 28 calls to the illegal outlet North Cloud Dispensary; 19 ended with a serious crime – stabbing, shooting and multiple weapons charges.
Under the Cannabis Control Act, police must issue a search warrant before entering a property they suspect could be selling cannabis illegally.
The report detailed how changing search warrant requirements for police to enter suspected illegal dispensaries could be a potential solution to eliminating these illegal pop-up shops.
In 2018 and 2019 , the force spent a total of $1.08 million on training, $244,000 on calls for service and $81,600 dealing with illegal dispensaries in Mississauga and Brampton.
“I do not want to see multiple stores opening where I have daycares, where I have parks, where I got youth drop-ins.
The current regulation regime for legal cannabis in Canada gives municipalities the least amount of power in implementation.
AGCO approves retail licenses in Ontario and the organization has been heavily criticized by municipal officials in the past for approving licenses in inappropriate locations.
“The competition is a bloodbath to put it frankly,” Tran said.
This is why House of Cannabis sees home delivery as a significant opportunity to start providing business and making connections in Mississauga.
At a time when vital public information is needed by everyone, The Pointer has taken down our paywall on all stories relating to the pandemic and those of public interest to ensure every resident of Brampton and Mississauga has access to the facts.