Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative Ontario government announced this afternoon that it will be rolling out online sales of marijuana when it becomes legal in October.
Finance Minister Vic Fedeli and Attorney General Caroline Mulroney said during a press conference that the government will introduce an online retail channel for cannabis on Oct. 17 and that by April 1, 2019 will provide marijuana to licenced retailers.
Fideli added that in October, consumers 19 and older will be able to purchase marijuana through an online retail platform provided by the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS).
Back in February, Ontario announced it had chosen Shopify Inc.‘s e-commerce platform for in-store and online cannabis sales. OCS, a subsidiary of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) announced the Ottawa-based company’s online and mobile sales portals will be used to develop a framework for selling recreational cannabis.
Shopify declined an interview requested by ITBusiness.ca for this story and provided a statement that Shopify “supports every retail model.”
“As we continue to work with the OCS to build their online store, we’re excited by the opportunity to work with Ontario’s cannabis entrepreneurs to help them build retail operations,” Samantha Tam, corporate communications and public relations at Shopify, said in the email.
Shopify said in February that it will be providing a cloud-based retail solution and that it will connect OCS’s head office systems and allow for shopping across desktop, mobile, and in-store sales.
An LCBO spokesperson told ITBusiness.ca in February that the online retail shops will include product and health information.
ITBusiness.ca reached out to LCBO for this article but did not receive a comment in time for deadline.
A press release from the Ontario government said the online portal will also “include a verification system that will ensure safe at home delivery for cannabis products.”
As online sales start in October, Fideli announced the government will immediately begin consultations “in advance of opening up a tightly regulated private retail model for cannabis.”
“The Government of Ontario will not be in the business of running physical cannabis stores,” Fedeli said in the release. “Instead, we will work with private sector businesses to build a safe, reliable retail system that will divert sales away from the illegal market.”
Retail stores wishing to be licenced should expect tight regulations and can launch business on April 1.
The press release did not say if retail stores will have an online option to sell marijuana in April once they have been licenced.
