Province reveals new moniker, logo for legal pot shops

Ontario Cannabis Stores set to open in 29 cities and towns including Ottawa

The name for Ontario’s government-run pot shops has been revealed: Ontario Cannabis Store. That’s the moniker chosen for the dispensaries that will be operated by a subsidiary of the LCBO when recreational pot is legal.

The logo for the stores is a simple, stark black circle with the acronym inside. The name and logo will be used for the stores and the online sales division, both run by the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corp.

“The name is designed to convey a safe, simple and approachable environment for consumers, and agency employees, in a clear and easily understood manner,” says a release from the LCBO.

Ontario plans to open 40 stores to start, expanding to 150 stores by 2020.

So far the cannabis agency has identified 29 cities and towns that will get one store or more, including Ottawa. The public will have a chance to comment on specific locations before they are approved.

The Ontario Cannabis Store outlets won’t look like the average liquor store. Products won’t be displayed on shelves, but sold from behind the counter. The type of packaging will be restricted, and include health warnings.

The stores will sell dried weed, cannabis oil and accessories. Edible cannabis products and concentrates are expected to be added to the mix within a year of the stores opening, after they are regulated by the federal government.

Ottawa-based Shopify will provide the e-commerce platform for both the stores and online sales.

“Shopify will also supply the technology to power screens throughout the physical stores that give consumers product and health information which will follow federal guidelines and marketing provisions,” says the LCBO release. “The in-store point-of-sale system will operate through iPad hardware.”

It’s not clear when the stores will open — it depends on when the federal government’s Cannabis Act gets through Parliament. It’s being debated in the Senate now, and amendments are likely, which will send it back to the House.

Once the bill is given royal assent, it will take another two to three months for provinces to get ready for sales, which means stores may not be operating until August or early fall.

The LCBO also announced on Friday the board of directors for the new cannabis agency.

It’s headed by Susan Pigott, a mental health and community development expert who is a former vice-president of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto. She’s also served as a vice-president of the United Way of Greater Toronto and CEO of St. Christopher House, a Toronto social services agency.

Here are the biographies of the other members of the board:

DAVID GRAHAM

Graham holds the position of integrated vice-president of finance and chief financial officer at St. Joseph’s Health Centre and St. Michael’s Hospital and is a member of the board of directors of the Inner City Family Health Team and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario.

IRA KAGAN

A founding partner of Kagan Shastri LLP, Kagan is a lawyer who focuses on municipal law, land-use planning, development charges and expropriations. Kagan is also a former member of Ontario Power Generation’s board of directors.

SUSAN ROBINSON

Robinson is a member of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario board of directors. Robinson is a founding director of the learning partnership and a member of Joseph Brant Hospital’s community advisory committee.

LORI SPADORCIA

Spadorcia is vice-president of communications and partnerships at CAMH. She’s currently a member of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario board of directors.