ANYONE CAN SELL POT 
Company with same address as illegal pot shop CAFE wins provincial go-ahead to open legal store
A numbered company with the same Toronto address as the illegal cannabis dispensary CAFE, which has repeatedly been shut down by city officials and police, was a winner in Ontario's latest cannabis store lottery.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced 42 lottery winners — 4,800 people or companies had expressed interest in opening a legal pot shop — that will now have the chance to open a legal store on Wednesday. The full list is at the bottom of this story.
Among the winners was 11180673 Canada Inc., based at 104 Harbord St., where one of CAFE's location is based.
CAFE, which stands for or Cannabis and Fine Edibles, has repeatedly flouted cannabis regulations and police have raided the west-end location at least once. City officials, meanwhile, were forced to place giant concrete blocks in front of another CAFE location in the downtown core to stop the company from operating.
In a previous statement to CBC News, the company defended its refusal to be shut down, saying its customers have a right to "reasonable, dignified access" to cannabis — access they say the government-regulated market, with its shortages and wait times and lack of edibles, has failed to consistently provide.
Government defends lottery process
The Ontario government defended the lottery process on Wednesday when asked about the selection.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, which regulates the retail cannabis sector, held the province's second cannabis store lottery on Tuesday and announced the results on Wednesday. (Gosia Wozniacka/The Associated Press)
Jenessa Crognali, press secretary for Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey, said parties selected through the lottery process can now apply for a licence to operate a cannabis store, but when they do, their applications will be subject to the agency's "strict due diligence process" to make sure they comply with the Cannabis License Act and its regulations.
"The Act precludes licences from being issued to anyone with ties to organized crime, or who has been charged or convicted for contravening the Cannabis Control Act, 2017 or for the illegal sale of cannabis after October 17, 2018," Crognali said in the email.
"In addition, licences will not be issued to anyone for whom there are reasonable grounds to believe will not act with integrity, honesty or in the public interest."
Unlike the first lottery, applicants in the latest draw had to show that they had secured retail space that could be used as a store if they were selected, and that they had enough capital to open it.
The winners now have until Aug. 28 to complete an application to open a store that will be vetted by the AGCO.
Company with same address as illegal pot shop CAFE wins provincial go-ahead to open legal store
A numbered company with the same Toronto address as the illegal cannabis dispensary CAFE, which has repeatedly been shut down by city officials and police, was a winner in Ontario's latest cannabis store lottery.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced 42 lottery winners — 4,800 people or companies had expressed interest in opening a legal pot shop — that will now have the chance to open a legal store on Wednesday. The full list is at the bottom of this story.
Among the winners was 11180673 Canada Inc., based at 104 Harbord St., where one of CAFE's location is based.
CAFE, which stands for or Cannabis and Fine Edibles, has repeatedly flouted cannabis regulations and police have raided the west-end location at least once. City officials, meanwhile, were forced to place giant concrete blocks in front of another CAFE location in the downtown core to stop the company from operating.
In a previous statement to CBC News, the company defended its refusal to be shut down, saying its customers have a right to "reasonable, dignified access" to cannabis — access they say the government-regulated market, with its shortages and wait times and lack of edibles, has failed to consistently provide.
Government defends lottery process
The Ontario government defended the lottery process on Wednesday when asked about the selection.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, which regulates the retail cannabis sector, held the province's second cannabis store lottery on Tuesday and announced the results on Wednesday. (Gosia Wozniacka/The Associated Press)
Jenessa Crognali, press secretary for Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey, said parties selected through the lottery process can now apply for a licence to operate a cannabis store, but when they do, their applications will be subject to the agency's "strict due diligence process" to make sure they comply with the Cannabis License Act and its regulations.
"The Act precludes licences from being issued to anyone with ties to organized crime, or who has been charged or convicted for contravening the Cannabis Control Act, 2017 or for the illegal sale of cannabis after October 17, 2018," Crognali said in the email.
"In addition, licences will not be issued to anyone for whom there are reasonable grounds to believe will not act with integrity, honesty or in the public interest."
Unlike the first lottery, applicants in the latest draw had to show that they had secured retail space that could be used as a store if they were selected, and that they had enough capital to open it.
The winners now have until Aug. 28 to complete an application to open a store that will be vetted by the AGCO.