Cannabis entrepreneurs in ‘tough spot’ after Ontario caps licenses
December 18th 2018
Ontario Caps Cannabis Retail Licenses!
Koby Smutylo leased 2 stores in Ottawa before government’s 25 licenses cap
Leah Hansen · Cannabis entrepreneur Koby Smutylo said he is frustrated with the provincial government’s decision to cap the number of licenses for retail pot shops.
An Ottawa cannabis entrepreneur who’s already leased two spaces for prospective stores says he’s frustrated with the Ontario government’s decision to cap the number of licenses for retail pot shops.
The province initially said it would not limit the number of licenses issued for retail stores, but it reversed course last week, saying it would take a “phased approach” due to “severe supply shortages” across the country.
Only 25 licenses will be issued to private retailers by Apr. 1 during the “initial phase,” with a lottery system to determine which owners are eligible.
Koby Smutylo is the president of Retailgo Corp., a company that operates a proposed dispensary chain called Ouid (pronounced “weed”).
He’s already leased storefronts on Bank Street and Elgin Street and has hired staff and consultants to strengthen his application. But with the limited number of licences to be handed out through a lottery system rather than by merit, Smutylo said he’s afraid his efforts are wasted.
“It’s amazing how much work went into each application, and here we are ready and … the government decides that the rules are completely different,” Smutylo said.
“We don’t believe that’s very fair.”
Eugene Oscapella, a professor of criminology and drug policy at the University of Ottawa, said the cap on licenses is likely to benefit the black market as consumers face longer waits for physical storefronts. Small business owners may also face especially tough consequences, he said.
“The government changed courses in midstream, and unfortunately, the entrepreneurs are going to pay the price,” he said. “It’s not very business-friendly.”
Government cites ‘severe shortage’ Before legalization, around 20 illegal cannabis stores were open in Ottawa alone. Most closed their doors after legalization in order to apply for a licence to open again in April.
In a joint statement on Dec. 13, Attorney General Caroline Mulroney and Finance Minister Vic Fedeli cited “national supply shortages” as the reason for restricting the number of licenses.
“Taking into consideration the required investments for a prospective Ontario private legal retailer, we cannot in good conscience issue an unlimited number of licenses to businesses in the face of such shortages,” their statement said.
Worries for small businesses
Trina Fraser, a partner with the law firm Brazeau Sellers, said the license cap has the potential to hit small businesses especially hard.
“If you don’t have those very deep pockets of a large, corporate retail venture, you could be in a tough spot right now,” she said.
“At the very least, you’re sitting on your thumbs … while 25 other retailers are establishing their brands and getting a head start on you.”
It’s even possible that large companies could buy out small operations that are granted one of the available licenses, she said, squeezing “mom-and-pop” stores out of the market.
And if entrepreneurs have already signed a lease, the limited number of licenses now available means they could be at risk of losing everything.
There are some who are in a really bad predicament right now.
– Trina Fraser, lawyer
“Now that the time for them to open the store has been delayed for an undetermined amount of time, they might not be able to fund the carrying costs of that location,” she said.
“So there are some who are in a really bad predicament right now.”
Smutylo said that thankfully, he isn’t one of those people — he’s able to terminate his leases if necessary, though it’s a step he hopes he won’t have to take.
“We think there’s still an opportunity to get the licenses,” he said.
“We’ve been so diligent in putting together our applications that one way or another, we’re here. And we’ll open the shop when we’re allowed to.”
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