Needless to say, October 17, 2018 will go down in history for our neighbor to the north. On that day, Canada officially legalized recreational use of the little green plant called marijuana, and residents from Alberta to Newfoundland and the Northwest Territories celebrated in unadulterated joy. Nevertheless, Canada has still been in the hot seat due to a multitude of problems, ranging from a consumer data breach to a massive blunder with a shipment of pot to Germany. However, Canada has still enforced provincial laws as a means to control the plant on a smaller scale. Now, the government of Ontario has taken the extra step of enforcing new regulations for incoming marijuana stores next year. So what can Canadians living in Ontario expect now? Let’s take a closer look and find out.
Play by My Rules
Recently, the provincial government of Ontario released an announcement that it will enforce new regulations that govern incoming marijuana stores, starting on April 1, 2019. According to the new rules, the businesses can be open on any day of the week between the hours of 9:00 AM and 11:00 PM. However, these stand-alone stores must be situated a minimum of 150 metres away from local schools and cannot allow anyone under 19 years of age to enter the premises. Likewise, each operator has been limited to a market concentration of 75 stores. Until these new rules are set in motion on April 1, people can only purchase marijuana from the Ontario Cannabis Store.
On December 17, 2018, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) will start taking applications for marijuana licenses. Meanwhile, illegal operators who started their businesses after October 17 will not have the legal right to obtain licenses. Likewise, people or organizations previously associated with criminal activity must show their tax compliance statuses to confirm they are on good terms with the Canadian government.
What’s the Purpose?
In a recent statement, Caroline Mulroney (Attorney General) explained that the ultimate purpose of these new rules is to protect children and to make sure people and groups operating in the marijuana industry behave honestly and in favor of the public. Over the course of 2 years, the Canadian government plans to provide $40 million to provide financial aid to municipalities seeking to implement the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Always remember that marijuana does not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance use disorder or a severe form of addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your drug abuse or addiction troubles today.
