1.0 General Standards

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1.1 Licensees must ensure that all employees act in accordance with the law and demonstrate honesty and integrity.

Requirements - At a minimum:

  1. licensees must obtain criminal background checks from employees as part of the hiring process
  2. licensees must ensure that all employees understand their obligations with respect to applicable laws, regulations, standards, and policies
  3. licensees must ensure that every holder of a cannabis retail manager licence employed to work in the cannabis retail store, every individual employed to work in the cannabis retail store or deliver cannabis sold through the cannabis retail store, and every individual employed to provide security services in relation to the operation of the cannabis retail store has completed any required training, including Board-approved training, prior to their first scheduled shift. [Amended: August 2024]
  4. licensees must ensure that all current employees complete any required training, including Board-approved training, within 60 days of it being approved and available. [Amended: August 2024]

1.2 Licensed Retail Operators must exercise oversight of their retail operations. 

1.3 Licensed Retail Operators (if also performing the duties of a Retail Manager) or licensed Retail Managers may only be accountable for up to 5 authorized stores. [Amended: March 2021]

1.4 A copy of the Retail Manager Licence must be kept at the store, and made available to AGCO inspectors or investigators upon request.

1.5 The retail store’s operating name must be the same as the name set out on the retail store authorization.

1.6 Licensees must notify the Registrar in accordance with the Notification Requirements. [Amended: March 2019]

1.7 A Licensed Retail Operator must submit the following changes to the Registrar within a reasonable time:

  1. if a person ceases to be a director or officer of a Licensed Retail Operator that is a corporation or a corporation that effectively controls the business
  2. if a person ceases to be a partner of a partnership in which the Licensed Retail Operator is also a partner.

1.8 A Licensed Retail Operator must submit, within a reasonable time, the following changes to the Registrar for approval:

  1. a person becomes a director or officer of a Licensed Retail Operator that is a corporation or a corporation that effectively controls the business
  2. a person becomes a partner of a partnership in which the Licensed Retail Operator is also a partner
  3. a person or partnership acquires a beneficial interest in the Licensed Retail Operator’s business, including holding or controlling shares of a holder that is a corporation or in a corporation that effectively controls the business
  4. a person or a partnership other than the Licensed Retail Operator becomes entitled to any of the profits from the sale of cannabis or cannabis accessories, or liable for any obligations incurred from the sale of cannabis or cannabis accessories, at any cannabis retail store for which the Licensed Retail Operator holds a retail store authorization.

1.9 Licensees must comply with the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020