A local cannabis industry official is feeling frustrated over a recent change to pot selling rules.
Muskoka Grown, the only local marijuana production plant in the district, is being left without a time frame on when it will be able to open its own planned retail store. CEO David Grand says they have invested time and money in planning to build a retail store. The original rules in Ontario would have allowed all marijuana production facilities to open a store on site.
But, now that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has restricted the opening of the first 25 stores to municipalities with no less than 50,000 residents, those store plans are up in the air. Grand says this restrictive rule is taking away the ability for the growing cannabis industry to bring jobs and economic growth to municipalities that could use a boost.
Grand’s frustration has been echoed by many local officials, including Mayor Graydon Smith who called the change in rules confusing and disappointing.
The AGCO will reportedly remove this population restriction when more licenses become available, however there is no time frame on when the market will open further. The Ford Government has defended its decision to restrict sales, blaming a nationwide shortage on recreational marijuana.
The province-run Ontario Cannabis Store will still sell marijuana online to all communities.