Few sectors in Ontario have invested as much or created as many jobs as the legal cannabis industry. Today, 45 per cent of Canada’s licensed cannabis producers are located in Ontario. At the end of 2018, the sector directly employed approximately 5,700 across the province and cannabis companies have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into the Ontario economy.

Unfortunately, an inability to get stores operating in Ontario is undermining an entire new sector. There is one cannabis store for every 590,000 Ontarians, versus one for every 14,000 Albertans. The lack of cannabis stores in Ontario is a boon to the illicit market and a source of frustration for cannabis consumers. There is ample supply to support a market roll-out of new stores in Ontario. Providing access to regulated cannabis is the best way to combat the illicit market while generating revenue to fund our schools and hospitals.

Right now, cannabis consumers are crying out for more access, joined by licensed producers and thousands of employees who have products ready to go. The good news is, we can fix the problem. What we need is a partner at the provincial level to facilitate our continued progress.