Prior to a Retail Store Authorization being issued and a cannabis retail store opening for business, the store location will be inspected by an AGCO Inspector to confirm that eligibility and store-specific requirements are met. The first inspection is called a Retail Store Pre-Authorization Inspection, which is conducted prior to a Retail Store Authorization being issued. The Inspector will be contacting the Owner/Retail Cannabis Sales Manager to review, in advance, the requirements to ensure the location is ready for this inspection. The following sections provide more information about the inspection process.
What is a Retail Store Pre-Authorization Inspection?
Before a Retail Store Authorization will be issued, the store location will be inspected by an AGCO Inspector to confirm that eligibility and store-specific requirements are met. During the Pre-Authorization Inspection, AGCO Inspectors will provide you with information about your obligations and responsibilities under the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018, its regulations and the Registrar’s Standards for Cannabis Retail Stores and answer any operational questions and/or concerns you may have related to the retail sale of cannabis. Inspectors will be checking that the store is ready to order, receive and appropriately secure cannabis products as required by the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018, its regulations and the Registrar’s Standards for Cannabis Retail Stores.
Things to know before scheduling a Pre-Authorization Inspection
- Ensure that you have applied for or hold a Retail Operator Licence and have the application file number or licence number ready.
- Ensure the complete application, including supporting documents for a Retail Store Authorization, is submitted.
- Confirm that all required fees have been paid. Please refer to the AGCO’s Application Fee Schedule for the applicable fee.
- Review information about your obligations and responsibilities under the Registrar’s Standards for Cannabis Retail Stores, as well as all applicable laws and regulations, including but not limited to, the federal Cannabis Act and its regulations, the Cannabis Control Act, 2017 (CCA), the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 (CLA), and Ontario Regulation 468/18.
- Pre-Authorization Inspection criteria, listed below, must be completed before an inspection can be scheduled.
Pre-Authorization Inspection Criteria
An AGCO Inspector will be visiting the retail store to confirm that store specific requirements are met. Store-specific requirements include:
How to schedule a Pre-Authorization Inspection
Once the complete Retail Store Authorization application has been submitted, notify the AGCO that the retail store has met all of the store specific requirements and is ready for an inspection. The AGCO Inspector will contact you to set up an appointment. As the applicant, you must be present at the retail store during the inspection.
Once all eligibility and store specific requirements are met, a Retail Store Authorization will be issued which may include certain terms and conditions, which the licensed Retail Operator must comply with before the store is open to the public.
Retail Store Ongoing Inspection
AGCO Inspectors may visit the retail store location at any time to confirm compliance with the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 and regulations and Registrar’s Standards. You must allow the inspection, and you must not interfere with the AGCO Inspector, refuse to answer questions related to the inspection, or provide false information.
When conducting an inspection, an AGCO Inspector may:
- ask you for and look at records that are relevant to the inspection
- take records away from the store to review, examine, test or copy. In this case, the Inspector will give you a receipt confirming which records have been taken
- After the Inspector has taken the records, you can request that the records be made available to you
- The records will be returned to you in a reasonable time, unless the records cannot be returned because of the testing done
- take photographs or other recordings
- ask about financial transactions, records or other matters relevant to the inspection.
If an Inspector asks you for a record, you must provide it. You must also must help the Inspector understand the record or provide it in a readable form.
AGCO Inspectors will also confirm the following:
- Outdoor Store Signage (CA s. 18, AGCO Registrar Standard 6.1 and Standard 6.2)
Signage must identify the business on the outside of the authorized store. Advertising may not:
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appeal to or target persons under 19 years of age
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promote cannabis or cannabis accessories in a way that is false, misleading, or deceptive
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suggest or imply, directly, indirectly, or by use of endorsements of testimonials, that consumption of cannabis is associated with success, enjoyment of an activity, fulfillment of a goal, or the resolution of a problem
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be associated with medicine, health, or pharmaceuticals
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depict or suggest the illegal sale of cannabis
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associate consumption of cannabis with driving a motorized vehicle, or with any activity that requires care and skill or has elements of danger
- Provincial Seal of Authorization (Ontario Regulation 468/18, section 19)
You must display the Provincial Seal of Authorization in a place that is visible from the exterior of the public entrance to the cannabis retail store. The retail seal must be least 17 centimetres in width at its widest point by 20 centimetres in length. Either the French version, the English version or both versions of the cannabis retail seal may be displayed. You will be provided access to download the seal once your RSA application is approved.
- Interior Store Signage (CA s. 17)
You may promote cannabis and cannabis accessories within the store only if:
- The promotion is limited to factual information about:
- Cannabis or a cannabis accessory and its characteristics
- A service related to cannabis
- The availability or price of cannabis, cannabis accessories, or a service related to cannabis.
- The promotion focuses on brand characteristics of cannabis or cannabis accessories
- Storage (AGCO Registrar Standard 2.2)
All products must be stored securely at all times and only be available to staff from the time the product arrives at the store to point of sale, destruction, or return to OCRC or Licensed Producer.
- Authorized Products (CLA s. 18, Ontario Regulation 468/18 s. 18)
You may only sell cannabis products purchased from the OCRC in the packaging which it was purchased from the OCRC. Cannabis accessories and shopping bags do not need to be purchased from the OCRC.
- Staff (CLA s. 23, CLA s. 5(4), Ontario Regulation 468/18 s. 21)
All staff employed to work before the cannabis retail store is open as well as after the store is open to the public, must be 19 years of age or older. Licensees must obtain criminal background checks from employees as part of the hiring process, as well as ensure that all employees:
- act in accordance with the law and demonstrate honesty and integrity
- have completed any required training, including AGCO Board-approved CannSell training, prior to their first scheduled shift.
- AGCO Authorization (Ontario Regulation 468/18, s. 13)
You must display the AGCO Retail Store Authorization in a visible place to patrons in the retail store.
- Sensory Display Containers (Standard 2.6)
You may use sensory display containers to allow patrons to see and smell cannabis products. Display containers must be locked and tamper-proof to prevent patrons from touching the products, and must not be able to be removed from the premises.
This requirement can be met during the pre-opening inspection or during the on-going inspection phase once you decide to use sensory display containers.
- Responsible Use (AGCO Registrar Standard 7.1)
Information related to the responsible use of cannabis must be made available to patrons. At a minimum, you must make the Health Canada Consumer Information – Cannabis document available to patrons.
- Retail Store Staff Education (Ontario Regulation 468/18, s.21)
Retail store staff including holders of Retail Store Authorizations, cannabis retail manager licensees and staff employed at the retail store must complete the required AGCO Board approved CannSell training prior to their first day of work to support the safe sale, and consumption of cannabis. The online CanSell training program, available in English and French, educates cannabis retail employees on the responsible sale of cannabis and their legal and regulatory obligations.