Marijuana Business Magazine January 2019

January 2019 | mjbizdaily.com 117 For information about cannabis regulations in other markets, order the Marijuana Business Factbook 2018 at mjbizdaily.com/factbook. Retail sales Online sales Home grow restrictions Consumption restrictions Estimated number of recreational consumers in 2019 Estimated recreational sales in 2019 Privately owned stores expected by April 2019. Legal marijuana sales are currently available only online via the government-run Ontario Cannabis Store. Government monopoly Four plants per household In addition to homes, cannabis consumption is generally allowed where smoking is permitted. Owners of hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts can designate rooms for personal consumption. 1.8 million $150 million (CA$200 million)   What to watch In August, the new Progressive Conservative government adopted a private-sector approach to brick-and-mortar retailing, scrapping the previous Liberal government’s plan to open a small number of government-owned stores. The move should provide significant opportunity for entrepreneurs to get involved on the retail side of Canada’s largest provincial market, because experts say a fully private cannabis sector in Ontario could support at least 1,000 outlets. The Ontario Cannabis Store—currently the only sales channel for legal marijuana sales in Ontario—is wrestling with lengthy shipping delays and thousands of customer complaints stemming from an ongoing labor dispute at Canada Post, its exclusive shipper. Many customers who ordered cannabis on the first day of legalization hadn’t received their products weeks later. Experts worry the OCS is incurring long-term damage to its reputation as a business. Ontario has become the hub of Canada’s licensed production, finance and ancillary cannabis industries. The province’s strong marijuana foundation is built on a base of licensed cultivators, strength in life sciences research and development, and a world-class industrial greenhouse sector with well-established supply chains. Ontario has more potential consumers than any other province, and it also serves as the epicenter of Canada’s marijuana capital market, served by investment firms and venture capitalists. Ontario, Canada—Recreational | Market AtA Glance