The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario says cannabis retailers in the province can offer delivery and curbside pick-up services on a permanent basis beginning March 15.
The move is meant to make the two sales options that cannabis stores were first permitted to explore on a temporary basis during the pandemic permanent. The shift will offer buyers more choice, convenience, and access to the legal cannabis market.
Permanent delivery and curbside pick-up could help cannabis stores, which saw lower in-store traffic during the pandemic, rebound. However, the move has some limitations, including regulations preventing cannabis retailers from operating entirely or predominantly as delivery businesses.
Cannabis retailers will not be able to adopt the same model being used by some quick-service restaurants and other retailers, which have set up fulfilment facilities that don’t serve walk-in customers but act as pick-up spots for couriers.
While most Ontario cannabis retailers use their own staff to facilitate deliveries and pick-up, some like Canopy Growth Corp. (WEED) use Uber (UBER) for deliveries.