“We want it to be regulated and safe, but surely we can afford independent retailers more opportunity to build a business,” says Safayeni. He argues that by loosening up the reins a little bit, and rolling the OCS back to more of an overseer than a participant, it could help new businesses thrive by allowing them to differentiate themselves more with prices Widening the Conversation The OCC hopes that once this review happens, the Chamber and the government can start to look at more big picture concepts and shift the mindset of the cannabis industry. Since its inception, it has grown past merely retailers and producers, and Safayeni hopes that the conversation can move to involve the broader set of ancillary businesses in the industry. For every $1 that cannabis businesses spend in the economy, ancillary businesses make $7 to $9. and product mix, and thus, better compete with the illicit market. According to Safayeni, for every $1 that cannabis businesses spend in the economy, ancillary businesses make $7 -$9. That includes lawyers, marketing, banking, insurance, construction, and interior design, just to name a few. He says that these businesses, alongside cannabis retailers and producers, could play a major role in getting Ontario back on its feet again once the country gets a handle on COVID-19. “Right now, we are slowly starting to look forward. How are we going to get Ontario’s economy back up and running? What will be our engines of growth?” asks Safayeni. “This industry, and its ancillary players, could play a role in that.” Financial Transparency According to the OCC, the OCS has legislative requirements that it’s not meeting either, like disclosing the full picture of their financial situation. While the OCS has released reports outlining its profits and successes, we haven’t seen any that show the true cost to the Ontario taxpayer. “We see revenue pictures for the OCS, but it’s not clear what the cost is to taxpayers,” explains Safayeni. “We would like to see some transparency around that.” Onboarding Staff with a Strong Training Program Educating Consumers about Cannabis March | April 2021 Deadline January 15 Published March 1 Increasing Sales with Point-of-Purchase Displays Indigenous Stores Make their Mark CANNABIS RETAILER 27
Cannabis Retailer January/February 2021: Page 27
