The Registrar’s Standards for Cannabis Retail Stores apply to all licensees except those who:
Licensees who meet the above criteria are required to comply with the Registrar’s Standards for Cannabis Retail Stores using the Point-of-Sale Data Reporting Platform. Licensees who do not meet the above criteria continue to be required to comply with the Registrar’s Standards for Cannabis Retail Stores.
The Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 (CLA) and Regulation 468/18 provide the Registrar with authority to establish standards and requirements in the following areas:
These Standards are outlined in the Registrar’s Standards for Cannabis Retail Stores. Licensees are required to comply with the Registrar’s Standards for Cannabis Retail Stores, as well as all applicable laws and regulations, including the Cannabis Control Act, 2017 (CCA), the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 (CLA), and Ontario Regulation 468/18.
The objective of a standards-based regulatory model is to shift the focus from requiring licensees to comply with a specific set of rules or processes, toward the broader regulatory outcome or objectives they are expected to achieve. Since there may be many ways for a licensee to meet the Standards, licensees have the flexibility to determine what works best for their business, thereby strengthening regulatory outcomes without needlessly burdening regulated entities.
Holders of a Retail Operator Licence are responsible for meeting all Standards. Where not specified otherwise, Standards also apply to holders of a Retail Manager Licence.
The Registrar’s Standards for Cannabis Retail Stores will be reviewed and revised on a regular basis to ensure that they are effective in mitigating risks as the cannabis retail sector matures.
1.1 Licensees must ensure that all employees act in accordance with the law and demonstrate honesty and integrity.
Requirements - At a minimum:
1.2 Licensed Retail Operators must exercise oversight of their retail operations.
1.3 Licensed Retail Operators (if also performing the duties of a Retail Manager) or licensed Retail Managers may only be accountable for up to 5 authorized stores. [Amended: March, 2021]
1.4 A copy of the Retail Manager Licence must be kept at the store, and made available to AGCO inspectors or investigators upon request.
1.5 The retail store’s operating name must be the same as the name set out on the retail store authorization.
1.6 Licensees must notify the Registrar in accordance with the Notification Requirements. [Amended: March, 2019]
1.7 A Licensed Retail Operator must submit the following changes to the Registrar within a reasonable time:
1.8 A Licensed Retail Operator must submit, within a reasonable time, the following changes to the Registrar for approval:
1.9 Licensees must comply with the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020
2.1 A secure, high-resolution surveillance system must be in place at all times.
Requirements - At a minimum:
2.2 All cannabis must be stored securely at all times and be accessible only by staff from receipt of product to point of sale, destruction, or return to the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation (OCRC) or the Licensed Producer.
2.3 Any cannabis that is outdated, recalled, damaged, deteriorated, misbranded, adulterated, returned, or otherwise ineligible to be sold must be kept separate from other cannabis.
2.4 All points of access to the premises must be secure and protected against unauthorized access.
2.5 Licensees must ensure that cannabis and accessories are not visible from the exterior of the premises.
2.6 Licensees may use sensory display containers to allow patrons to see and smell cannabis. Sensory display containers must be locked and tamper-proof to prevent patrons from touching the cannabis, and must not be able to be removed from the premises.
2.7 The cannabis used in the sensory display containers must be purchased by the Licensed Retail Operator from the retail store’s inventory through the point-of-sale system.
3.1 Cannabis that is ineligible to be sold and ineligible for return to the OCRC must be destroyed or rendered unusable through a method that :
3.2 If carried out by the Licensee, the entire cannabis destruction process must be captured on the premises’ surveillance system, and must be overseen by a Licensed Manager or Licensed Retail Operator.
3.3 Destruction of cannabis that is ineligible for sale, except cannabis that is contained within a vapour product, must be performed on a monthly basis, at a minimum.
3.4 Licensees must inform the AGCO of any destroyed cannabis in accordance with the Notification Requirements. [New: May, 2019]
3.5 Destruction of cannabis that is ineligible for sale and is contained within a vapour product must be performed as soon as it is practicable to do so.
4.1 In the event of a product recall, Licensees must work with the OCRC to ensure that all unsold product subject to the recall is transported securely back to the OCRC, and must ensure that records are kept of all product returned. [AMENDED March 2019]
4.2 If a Licensed Retail Operator holds more than one Retail Store Authorization, cannabis may be transferred between their retail stores. Licensees must ensure that the transportation of cannabis is secure, and must maintain records of all movements of cannabis between stores. At each store, the Licensed Retail Manager or Licensed Retail Operator must supervise and document the transfer process and inform the AGCO in accordance with the Notification Requirements. [Amended: May, 2019]
4.3 Licensees must ensure that the transportation of cannabis for delivery is secure. [New: March 2022]
5.1 Licensees must take reasonable measures to ensure that patrons are not purchasing cannabis or cannabis accessories on behalf of individuals under the age of 19.
5.2 Licensees must take reasonable measures to ensure that individuals accessing their website, app or other similar online platform for the purpose of the cannabis retail store are at least 19 years of age. [New: March 2022]
6.1 Licensees must have signage clearly identifying their business on the exterior of the authorized store.
6.2 Advertising may not:
6.3 Licensees may not provide cannabis or cannabis accessories free of charge or provide any other thing or benefit, as an inducement for the purchase of cannabis or a cannabis accessory. [AMENDED March 2019]
6.4 Licensees may not accept or request material inducements from licensed producers, their representatives, or suppliers of cannabis accessories. [AMENDED June 2022]
Guidance: inducements are items, benefits, payments, or services that are offered or given with the purpose to promote or increase the sale of a particular brand or product by the licensee or their employees.
6.5 Licensees and their representatives may not, either directly or indirectly, accept or enter into any agreements for any item, benefit or service with a licensed producer or their representatives. The following exemptions apply [New: June 2022]:
6.6 - Licensees and their representatives may not enter into any agreement pursuant to Standard 6.5 that [New: June 2022]:
7.1 Licensees must ensure that information related to the responsible use of cannabis is made available to patrons.
Requirements - At a minimum:
8.1 Licensees must ensure that the following records are maintained, retained a minimum of three (3) years, or longer as may be required by other laws and regulations, and made available to the AGCO in accordance with the Notification Requirements or upon request [Amended: June 2022]:
8.2 Licensees must complete full physical inventory counts of all cannabis on a monthly basis at a minimum or upon the request of AGCO.
A log of the inventory results must be maintained and all discrepancies must be reported to the AGCO in accordance with the Notification Matrix and made available to the AGCO upon request.
8.3 Licensees must ensure that there are reasonable safeguards around data security and protection of data integrity, including point of sales systems and e-commerce systems.
8.4 Point of Sales systems and e-commerce systems must be certified by a recognized industry certification body or organization (e.g. PCI, ISO) and have logging capability for the purposes of monitoring all system access and system changes.
[Removed: March 2022]