Delivery services can now bypass cannabis store bans in Mississauga and Oakville

Just because you can’t go out and buy cannabis products at a neighbourhood store in Mississauga and Oakville doesn’t mean the products can’t come to you.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario — the agency that controls cannabis sales — has just made permanent the delivery program that allows for customers to order their goods online or over the phone and have it sent directly to their homes.

Starting March 15 the program will become the new normal after the practise has been in place since the beginning of the pandemic.

The delivery option has caused some confusion with consumers and local politicans in Mississauga and Oakville as both municipalities have officially rejected the idea of allowing legal marijuana stores to operate within their jurisdictions. Right now, if they want to shop in person, Mississauga and Oakville residents have to go to Toronto, Brampton, Burlington and Milton.

But with the delivery option customers in both areas can just have it sent to their homes.

“It kind of makes the ban on stores a moot point,” said Mississauga resident Robert Slade. “I can just get it delivered to my apartment. It’s just like ordering food from Uber, you call up and they send it over.

For its part, the commission said the move is meant to offer buyers more choice, convenience and access to the legal cannabis market.

As for the retaliers, the new system has regulations preventing them from operating entirely or predominantly as delivery businesses As well, delivery orders must be placed with a specific store location and orders have to originate and be fulfilled by that same store with products that are on-premises.

The commission will also only allow deliveries to be made by people with a retail store authorization or their staff and will not allow deliveries from third parties.

– with files from the Canadian Press