Looking for a silver lining in a potential Doug Ford win in Ontario, I wondered if marijuana tourism in Ontario would be easier under a PC government. After all, the Liberals plan was so harsh that only 40 Ontario Cannabis Store locations would be open by the end of 2018. The long-term goal was 150 locations in a province that stretches from Minnesota to New York state on a U.S. map.
The good news, relatively speaking, is that the Ford Government will have private retail outlets as well as online purchasing. The bad news, especially for tourists, is that those private retail stores won't open until April 1, 2019.
Marijuana tourists traveling to Ontario before April 1 have virtually 0 options. You can't order marijuana online since you don't live in Canada. You can't buy it legally. If you know someone who lives in the province, you could have them buy for you, provided all parties involved are 19 or older. You also need to be in a situation where you can partake, which is most likely a house where smoking is allowed.
Ontario's restrictions still hamper tourists since you can't consume marijuana in public. October 17 will be significant for those who live in Ontario, not so much if you don't.
Our guide to legal marijuana in Canada
Doug Ford will be the new premier of Ontario
Canada does have 9 other provinces, each with their own rules. Marijuana tourists have better options in other provinces. The significance of Ontario's stance also stems from the high percentage of tourists, particularly American, who flock to Ontario.
Canadian tourism isn't as high in the winter months because of snow, ice, and snow. So a wait until spring might not be that big of a deal. We don't know any details for the Ford Government Ontario plan other than the April 1 deadline. Having more than 40 private outlets would be a slight improvement over the Liberals plan. The highly restrictive nature of the provincial plan does increase the chances of a black market. That takes out the fun of legally buying and using marijuana.
This is the point where we need to note that a Globe and Mail investigation said that Doug Ford was a drug dealer, specifically hashish in the 1980s.
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There are plenty of reasons to visit Canada that have nothing to do with marijuana, sometimes even in the winter months: Skating on Rideau Canal in Ottawa, going cross-country skiing in New Brunswick, Carnivale in Quebec City, and skiing in Banff and Whistler.
photo credit: me
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Posted by: bkv | September 18, 2018 at 05:23 AM