Cannsell partnered program of the Board of Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)

 Cannabis defined as Narcotic (Opium and Narcotic Act) 1923

 2001 Terrance Parker (epilepsy) sues ON for arrest in 1996 for growing for medical purposes
o Denying growing deprived rights to Liberty and Security
o Result in MMAR (Medical Marijuana Access Regulations)
 2013 MMPR (Medical Marihuana Medical Purposes Regulations
o Health Canada authorized licensed producers
o Medical consumers instructed to destroy their plants
 2016 Allard v. Canada decision
o Requiring consumers to buy from licensed producers violates Liberty and Security
(Section 7 Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms)
o ACMPR (Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations)
 2018 Bill C-45 authorized recreational sale and consumption
o Sale began Oct. 17, 2018
 Cannabis is a plant covered in psychoactive glands that cover leaves and flowers
 Indica/Sativa/Hybrid
o Indica – relaxed couch lock
o Sativa – creative, cerebral, less fatigue
o Hybrid – Indica/Sativa dominance
 Male plants offer less cannabinoid content, mainly used for breeding
o Pollenating females results in seed production in flowers
o Taller, less bushy
 Female plants offer high cannabinoid content and used for all cannabis products
o Mother plants are cloned to keep genetics consistent
 Cannabinoids react with the receptors in ECS in the body (endo-cannabinoid system)
 Over 100 cannabinoids identified in cannabis
 Humans produce endocannabinoids
o Plant cannabinoids are called phytocannabinoids (including CBD/THC)
 THC
o Delta – 9 – tetrahydrocannabinol
o Responsible for most psychoactive effects
o Plants produce THC acid (THCA)
o THCA converted to THC when decarboxylated (heated/burned)
 CBD
o Cannabidiol
o Non-intoxicating
o Counteract THC
o Reduces inflammation/pain
 Terpenes responsible for smells/taste (aroma)
o Beta – Caryophyllene
 Smells like black peppercorn
 Anti – inflammatory / pain reduction

o Linalool
 Lavender scent
 Relaxation
o Pinene
 Pine needle scent
 Increase alertness, memory retention
 May counteract effects of Cannabis
o Humulene
 Hops scent
 Reduce appetite
o Limonene
 Citrus
 Increase drowsiness
o Myrcene
 Earthy/Musky scent
 Lethargic effects
 Products
o Dried Flower
 Highest concentration of cannabinoids on the plant
 Up to 32% THC
o Milled Flower
 Pre-ground loses potency faster
o Pre-rolls
 Usually contain 0.5g
o Cannabis Oil
 Can be taken under the tongue
 May produce different effects than smoking flower
o Gel caps
 Pills filled with oil
 Similar to edibles
o Edibles
 Food infused with cannabis
 May be more potent
 Effects can last 8-12 hours
o Extracts
 Concentrated cannabinoids
 Hash/Shatter/Rosin/Wax
 Wax/Shatter manufactured with use of harmful solvents (butane/alcohol)
  70-90% THC
 Consumption requires special accessiories (dab rigs, etc..)
o Topicals
 Lotions, salves, sprays
 Non-intoxicating for localized pain and skin conditions (psoriasis, eczema)
 Consumption Methods
o Smoking (pipes, joints, water pipes)
 Most harmful method
 Releases harmful chemicals found in tobacco
 Water pipes cool smoke very little filtration
 Holding in smoke does not affect THC absorbed
o Vaping (heating until cannabinoids are released)
 No burning results in less harmful chemicals
 Less smell
 Requires usually expensive devices
o Edibles
 Measured cannabinoid content
 Alternative to smoking/vaping
 Stronger body effects may be unpleasant to some people
o Extracts
 Dab Rigs
 Heating part of rig (nail) to extremely hot temperatures
 Releases cannabinoid rich vapor
 More potent than flower (not recommended for new consumers)
o Topicals
 Not possible to become intoxicated
 Localized effects
 Cannabis Accessories
o Pipes
 Bowl, stem, mouthpiece
 Reusable and portable
o Waterpipes
 Bowl piece, downstem, bong chamber
o Vaporizers
o Rolling papers
 Used to create cannabis cigarettes
o Grinders
 Tool used to grind cannabis into more efficient consumption state
 Effects of cannabis depend on strain, consumption method, amount consumed
 Mental effects include
o Heightened sensory experience, euphoria, sense of well being, relaxation, confusion,
fatigue, impaired memory, anxiety/paranoia, reduced concentration, impaired
attention, slower reaction times
 Physical effects include
o Red eyes, dry mouth, increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure
o Smoking may damage blood vessels
 Decreased blood pressure and increased heart rate can be detrimental to users with heart
issues
 NO recorded deaths due to overdose
 Daily use can cause dependency resulting in withdrawals such as anxiety, irritability, trouble
sleeping
 Regular long-term use may result in impaired memory, concentration, decision making,
bronchitis, lung infections, persistent chronic cough
 Most effects are reversable once consumption has stopped
 Risks
o Youth
 Most at risk for negative effects
 Higher risk of addiction
o Pregnancy
 Should abstain from consumption
 No known safe amount for pregnant women
 Lower Birth weight and alertness
o Second-hand Smoke
 Just as damaging as second-hand tobacco smoke
 Second hand high
o Dependency
 9% Canadian consumers report daily use
 Cannabis Use Disorder – clinically significant impairment and distress
o Mental Health
 People at risk for developing schizophrenia increase risk with consumption
 Most common issue is dependance
o Mixing
 Cannabis and alcohol together greatly increase intoxication
 Smoking before drinking increases THC blood content
 Feeling nauseated/overwhelmed (greening out)
 Prescription and illicit drugs can be unpredictable when mixed with cannabis
 Illegality made it hard to research cannabis and it’s benefits
 Legalization has given Canadian Scientists more research opportunity
 Canadian Gov researching cannabis in pregnancy and workplace
 Gaps in research include second-hand cannabis smoke and long-term risks for teens
 CANNABIS ACT – October 17, 2018
o Strict framework for production, distribution, sale, and possession
o Protects people by creating tightly regulated supply chain, and gave access to quality-
controlled cannabis
o Federal Requirements
 May have up to 30 grams of (legal) cannabis (dried or non-dried form
equivalent) in public
 Share (not sell) up to 30 grams with other adults
 Purchase from licensed retailer
 Grow up to 4 plants per residence from licensed seeds/seedlings
 Not following laws may result in fines/imprisonment/federal criminal record
o Federal Gov responsible for production, cultivation, and licensing
 Exclusively responsible for medical marijuana
o AGCO responsible for regulating sale in private stores (April 2019)
 Licensing retail stores and store operators
 Creating standards and requirements for stores
 Inspections, investigations, audits
 Safe, Responsible, Lawful sale of cannabis on Ontario
o Provinces are responsible for their own guidelines and restrictions
o CANNABIS CONTROL ACT/CANNABIS LICENSE ACT (Ontario)
 How/Where/Who may buy cannabis
 Intended to protect youth, roads, and combat illegal market
 Medical Users
o Medical document from Health Canada authorizes uses
o Not prescribed
o Purchase directly from licensed producers (must register with producer)
o May grow own or authorize someone else to grow on their behalf
o 5 indoor/2 outdoor plants per daily grams prescribed
o May transport more marijuana in public than recreational consumers (150 grams or 30
day supply, whichever is less)
 Recreational Users
o Purchase from online government store (OCS) or licensed retailer
o Legal age is 19+
o Limited to space consumed and amount carried
o 4 plants per residence
 Cannabis may only be transported in closed original packaging or in an area that is not
accessible to the driver or passengers
 Zero blood-drug level for drivers under 22, commercial drivers, G1 and G2/M1 and M2 drivers
 Short term license suspension for failing SFST (standard field sobriety test) or oral fluid test
 90 day suspension for refusing or failing DRE or blood test
 Working at a retailer requires
o Cannsell certification
 o 19+
o Background check
 Customers asking for medical ADVICE must be declined
o Redirect customer to a healthcare professional for advice
 To Operate a Retail Store, you must have (AGCO)
o Retail Operator License (Store Owner)
o Cannabis Retail Manager License (Store Managers)
o Retail Store Authorization
 AGCO conducts audits, mystery shopping, education, and inspections to confirm compliance
 Must facilitate all compliance activities, must not refuse to answer questions or provide false
information
 AGCO officials may ask for certain records to review and copy, take photographs/recordings,
financial transactions, interview staff members
 Failure to comply with AGCO may result in monetary penalties, conditions to license, license
suspensions/revocations, federal or provincial penalties
o Monetary penalties include fines from $1,500-$100,000 (most between $2,000-$20,000)
 Penalties include sale to underage persons, diversion from or to illicit market,
non-compliance
 Sales Regulations include
o 19+ sales
o ID check for persons appearing under 25 BEFORE entering store
o Persons under the influence
o Must be sold in Original Packaging
 Excise stamp
 Standardized cannabis symbol
 Mandatory health messages
o Sales must be made in person (or at OCS)
o Information on responsible use must be available (at minimum a document titled
“Consumer Education – Cannabis”)
 Other documents prescribed must be made available
o Up to 30 grams per VISIT
o Hours of operation between 9am-11pm
o NO products may be visible from outside the store
o Retail store operators may only source from OCS
o Ineligible products for sale must be separated from sale products
o Sensory display containers must be secured
o Marketing and Advertising is highly restricted
 Must not target people underage
 Promote lies/misinformation
 Suggest that cannabis helps with success, activities, or problems
 Cannot be associated with medicine, health, pharmaceuticals
 Depict illegal sale
 Association with operating motor vehicles
 o Sales cannot be induced by offering free cannabis/accessories
o Retail Stores cannot accept equipment, supplies, or services at a discounted price to
increase sales or distribution of a particular brand
 Store must be secured at all points of entry
 High resolution 24h surveillance of interior (point of sale area, sales floor, receiving/storage
area) and immediate exterior (entrances, exits, areas of IDing)
o All recordings must be saved for 30 days
 Must hold manager license to
o Offer employment
o Manage compliance issues in relation to sale
o Supervise employees
o Overseeing and coordinating sales
o Signing authority to purchase or make contracts related to cannabis
o Retail managers must only manage one store
 Records must be kept for 3 years
o Employee files
o Training records
o Shift schedules
o Transaction records
o Supply records
o Destruction reports (of cannabis)
o Suggested to keep track of any serious incidents
 Inventory must be checked weekly and AGCO must be notified of any discrepancies
 Recalled products must be separated and logged with any details and shipped securely back to
OCS
 Retail store owners may transport their goods between OWNED stores and must be
documented
o Cannot be transported by any 3rd party
 Cannabis ineligible for sale must be destroyed on a MONTHLY BASIS and viewed by surveillance
o Destruction must comply with the law
o Destruction cannot expose any persons to smoke
 Criminal Code creates 3 categories for drug impaired driving offences
o Operating or having care of a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, or alcohol
o Operating or having care of a motor vehicle with a prohibited blood-drug level
o Refusing to participate in a test or give a required sample
 Never advise someone when it is safe to drive after using cannabis
 Acceptable ID includes
o Ontario Drivers License
o LCBO BYID Photo card
o Photo Card issues under Photo Card Act
o Permanent Resident Card
o Secure Indian Status Card
o Canadian Citizenship Card with Photo
 o Canadian Passport
 Cannot ask for Health Card but is acceptable if given
 Companies are prohibited from selling products with both cannabis and alcohol
 Edibles must be regulated to >=10mg per package of THC
 Edibles must be in child resistant and ‘plain’ packaging
o Must display health warning and cannabis symbol
o Must contain equivalency to dried cannabis
o Cannot contain health, cosmetic, or dietary claims
o Ingredients that cater to overconsumption are restricted (nicotine and alcohol are not
allowed, caffeine is limited)
 Health Canada recommends THC content of 2.5mg or less for new users
 Inhaling extracts take one or two puffs of (100mg/g) THC or less
 Cannabis Extract Responsible Consumption
o “Start low and go slow”
o Avoid frequent use
o Expect stronger effects
o Don’t drive
o Don’t mix
 Topicals are limited to 1000mg THC per package