January 17, 2025 (TORONTO) – The Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) announced its second call for applications for the Social Impact Fund (the Fund) to promote social responsibility in connection with cannabis. Through the Fund, the OCS supports projects and research to benefit people, communities, and the Ontario cannabis sector by creating value and sharing knowledge. The OCS has broadened its eligibility scope and invites public healthcare organizations, incorporated not-for-profits, registered charities, and education institutions to apply for funding, ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 for projec ..read more

"Buzzkill," the OCS and AGCO’s educational dispensary, reminds consumers to “shop safe, shop legal” October 17, 2024 (TORONTO) – To celebrate the sixth anniversary of cannabis legalization, the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) are unveiling "Buzzkill," a pop-up experience running from Oct 17th to 20th that mimics an illegal dispensary. Instead of selling illegal cannabis, Buzzkill delivers something far more important—critical consumer education. The interactive event highlights the dangers of illegal cannabis and underscores the benefits of ..read more

July 9, 2024 (TORONTO) — To further enable a vibrant cannabis marketplace, the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) announced today that it will reduce its payment processing timelines for Flow-Through products. The OCS’s standard payment term for Licensed Producers is up to 60 days. Effective immediately, the OCS is adjusting its internal service standards in an effort to pay Licensed Producers for Flow-Through products more expediently, at approximately 15 days, where possible. With quicker access to cash, this change is expected to better support Licensed Producers in their operations and result in ..read more

May 14, 2024 (TORONTO) — Today, the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) published Ontario Cannabis Marketplace: By the Numbers, a new resource designed for all adult Ontarians interested in learning more about the progress being made in Ontario’s legal cannabis industry.  The By the Numbers data report builds on previous OCS insights publications to demonstrate the span and scope of retail cannabis operations across Ontario, and the growth in access to legal cannabis over time. The data-driven, graphic-rich report conveys dozens of legal market metrics in an easily digestible way. Each sec ..read more

May 9, 2024 (TORONTO) — Today, the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) announced improvements to the way it supports Licensed Producer-operated retail stores, commonly referred to as “Farmgate Stores.” Under Ontario’s legal cannabis framework, federally Licensed Producers are eligible to operate a single Authorized Retail Store at a production facility located in Ontario. Today’s announcement is meant to create new opportunities for Farmgate Stores. In late spring, the OCS will create pathways for Licensed Producers to offer cannabis products that are exclusive to Farmgate Stores, helping to position ..read more

April 26, 2024 (TORONTO) — Today, the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) published its inaugural Good All Around Social Impact Report to recap the progress it has made under its first Social Responsibility Strategy from 2021 to the end of 2023. The Social Impact Report summarizes the OCS’s strategic social responsibility objectives and illustrates how the organization is driving positive change in the areas of environmental sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and cannabis literacy. Highlights from the OCS’s first three years of social responsibility programming include: D ..read more

November 28, 2023 (TORONTO) – Building on its commitment to prioritize social responsibility as it enables Canada’s largest and most vibrant cannabis marketplace, the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) announced today the first partner projects selected to receive funding as part of its inaugural Social Impact Fund (the Fund). This year’s recipients are: Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation The Cannabis Social Equity and Equality Development (S.E.E.D.) Initiative Princess Margaret Cancer Centre University of Calgary Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy McMaster University The Fund, first introdu ..read more

October 3, 2023 (Toronto) – Today, the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) launched its educational campaign, Trailblazers, driving awareness about the benefits of purchasing cannabis from Ontario’s legal marketplace versus unregulated products in the illegal market.  Featuring licensed producers and authorized retailers, the campaign celebrates the passion of some of the people – growers, entrepreneurs, and retailers – bringing innovative, carefully curated product offerings and great customer experiences to the legal marketplace. When purchasing cannabis through Ontario’s authorized stores, ad ..read more

September 14, 2023 (TORONTO) – The Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) announced today the launch of its new social impact platform, Good All Around. Visitors of OCS.ca/GoodAllAround will find OCS’s social responsibility content in one convenient location. It connects Ontarians to the benefits and contributions of the legal cannabis framework through investments in socially responsible initiatives, innovative community partnerships and open access to fact-based, educational information.   Good All Around is informed by three pillars of social responsibility: sustainability, inclusion and knowle ..read more

July 10, 2023 (TORONTO) – New OCS public education campaign clears up confusion and encourages Ontarians to make informed decisions about cannabis Today, the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) launched a multi-channel awareness campaign aimed at expanding cannabis literacy among Ontarians through the Cannabis Made Clear online education hub. Cannabis Made Clear provides easy access to unbiased, fact-based and current resources to support cannabis consumers and canna-curious Ontarians in making informed, responsible choices about cannabis. Throughout the summer and again towards the end of 2023, Onta ..read more