Who Sells Medical Marijuana?

In Canada, thirty-nine Licensed Producers (LPs) are legally permitted by the federal government to cultivate or sell medicinal marijuana. Of this number, twenty-nine actually sell it. In alphabetical order, they are:

ABcannMedicinals Inc. (ON), Agripharm Corp. (ON), Aphria (ON), Aurora Cannabis Enterprises Inc. (AB), Bedrocan Canada Inc. (ON, two sites), Broken Coast Cannabis (BC), Canada’s Island Garden (PEI), Canna Farms Ltd. (BC), CanniMed Ltd. (SK), CannTrust Inc. (ON), Delta 9 Bio-Tech Inc. (MB), Emblem Cannabis Corp (ON), Emerald Health Botanicals Inc. (BC), Hydropothecary (QC), In The Zone Produce Ltd. (BC), Maricann Inc. (ON), MedReleaf Corp. (ON), Mettrum (Bennett North) Ltd. (ON), Mettrum Ltd. (ON), OrganiGram Inc. (NB), Peace Naturals Project Inc. (ON), RedeCan Pharm (ON), THC Biomed Ltd. (BC), The Green Organic Dutchman Ltd. (ON) Tilray (BC), Tweed Farms Inc. (ON), Tweed Inc. (Ontario), Whistler Medical Marijuana Corp. (BC).

As per the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Cannabis is considered a controlled substance. Before issuing a license to a producer, the government takes into account physical traits like size of building, level of security, number of staff, experience, and technique used to cultivate. Sale capacity and inventory are also factors. Consumption figures and inventories are reported to the International Narcotics Control Board.

All Licensed Producers of medicinal marijuana are subject to routine inspections in order to ensure that they are complying with federal regulations. If they are found to be in violation of ACMPR (Access of Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations), it is assumed that they will take the appropriate steps to amend in a timely fashion. Should they fail to, Health Canada uses enforcement methods such as warning letters, seizures, license suspensions, revocations and prosecutions.

Contrary to popular belief, storefront distribution of medical marijuana is illegal and several have been shut down and subject to police raids. While Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s election campaign pledged blanket legality, law enforcement maintains that until the new laws are put into effect, failure to abide by them will result in criminal charges. In May of 2016 alone, Toronto police raided dozens of Toronto shops and laid over 180 charges.

Another major criticism of the storefront operations is their vulnerability to robberies. Since June of 2016 there have been thirteen robberies of Toronto dispensaries. On some occasions customers were threatened with weapons, held at gunpoint and assaulted