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Ontario unveils plan for government chain of marijuana stores

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Re: Ontario unveils plan for government chain of marijuana stores

#91

Post by NovaS1X »

gyardley wrote: post #81

This entire thread is a great example of how many if not most Canadians will passionately defend any old goofy policy, as long as it's different from how the Americans do it. I've lived in a variety of American states as well as Ontario and I really can't believe what I'm reading - anyone defending the selection, knowledge of the staff, price, hours, pretty much anything relating to the LCBO vs. a privatized but regu…

If it counts for anything I'm a Canadian and I vehemently oppose any policy like this.

The selection and knowledge of my dispensary in Vancouver in invaluable. They even take notes based on experiences of every strain I buy from them so that they can tailor their suggestions to me based on my history and the composition of the strain. I can't just smoke anything, my body only responds well to certain strains, and I trust nobody less than some ignorant, unionized liquor store staff to personalize my experience based on my needs.

The quote by Ms. Roach saying " … The person who smokes high-end cannabis, they don't want shwaggy, mass-produced stuff. They don't want Labatt Blue, they want craft." is completely true.

edit: spelling/grammar

Re: Ontario unveils plan for government chain of marijuana stores

#92

Post by DKnoll »

criddell wrote: post #13
JPKab wrote: post #7

I live in Colorado. I think they are really blowing it by making the stores government owned. In Colorado, the stores are privately owned but very, very strictly regulated. Plants are tracked with an RFID all the way to the products derived from them, with a full chain of custody all the way to purchase. Only adults 21 and up can enter them, with a strict dual-check of identification (once to enter, and again when pa…

You're making a lot of assumptions about how they will run the stores. Other people have already mentioned how the government runs the alcohol stores and (IMHO) they do a pretty good job of it. I live in Texas now and when I go back to Ontario to visit my family, it does seem weird that I can't buy beer in a 7-11 or a grocery store or in a drive through shop (not sure these are a good idea). Being the sole seller als…

You can buy beer in (some) grocery stores, this is a recent development after pressure on the province to open things up.

Re: Ontario unveils plan for government chain of marijuana stores

#93

Post by wolco »

mwdalrymple wrote: post #44
wolco wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Privating hydro is different because it is still a monopoly. The little guy cannot setup a power company. But this is a new industry with small business being wiped out. Imagine we all had to wait in line for our block of cheese once a week.

But are these little businesses on the books contributing tax revenue?

They would if allowed to continue and brought in legally.

Right now they are paying taxes on hydro, water, property taxes and income earned, employee related taxes, insurance and some are charging hst.

Re: Ontario unveils plan for government chain of marijuana stores

#94

Post by wavefunction »

ontarioborn wrote: post #40
Para2016 wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Being the sole seller and negotiating "ruthlessly" leaves a lot of room for black market.

Not anymore. Beer, cider, and wine are available in some supermarkets since 2016. see https://www.ontario.ca/page/beer-wine-cider-sales-grocery-st... . But it's not like the USA, where cigarettes and beer are the first things one sees when walking into a 7-11.

Usually beer is along the back-wall of every single US 7-11 I've entered. Cigarettes are behind the counter, by law.

Re: Ontario unveils plan for government chain of marijuana stores

#95

Post by mabbo »

3pt14159 wrote: post #15

I'm a Toronto native. These are the forces driving this decision: 1. Provincial government is cash poor. The LCBO is a huge source of cash, what government would give up another source? This isn't taxes, this is profit. "Isn't this just another tax?" One might ask, but no it's not. The reason is that Ontario has fewer alcohol distribution centres than a free market would provide. Most people just do a bigger alcohol…

> The LCBO is a huge source of cash, what government would give up another source

The government long ago allowed "The Beer Store", a private non-Canadian company to be part of the alcohol monopoly. It's only coming to an end now that some grocery stores are allowed to sell beer.

Come to think of it, since my local Loblaws got beer and wine, I have never set foot inside an LCBO and doubt I'll ever need to again.

Re: Ontario unveils plan for government chain of marijuana stores

#96

Post by VeronicaJJ123 »

Wait a minute. After telling us that marijuana is bad of use now government wants to get into that business ? This in my opinion is worse sort of corruption.

The people who run marijuana businesses should be marijuana enthusiasts who care about themselves and their customers not some government pen pusher.

Soon they will treat it as Tobacco and will tax it to death and not to mention kill all innovation in this space.

Re: Ontario unveils plan for government chain of marijuana stores

#97

Post by WalterBright »

3pt14159 wrote: post #15

I'm a Toronto native. These are the forces driving this decision: 1. Provincial government is cash poor. The LCBO is a huge source of cash, what government would give up another source? This isn't taxes, this is profit. "Isn't this just another tax?" One might ask, but no it's not. The reason is that Ontario has fewer alcohol distribution centres than a free market would provide. Most people just do a bigger alcohol…

> Provincial government is cash poor.

I've never heard of any government at any time at any level that ever declared it had enough revenue to do its job.

Re: Ontario unveils plan for government chain of marijuana stores

#98

Post by notatoad »

WalterBright wrote: post #97
3pt14159 wrote: post #15

I'm a Toronto native. These are the forces driving this decision: 1. Provincial government is cash poor. The LCBO is a huge source of cash, what government would give up another source? This isn't taxes, this is profit. "Isn't this just another tax?" One might ask, but no it's not. The reason is that Ontario has fewer alcohol distribution centres than a free market would provide. Most people just do a bigger alcohol…

> Provincial government is cash poor. I've never heard of any government at any time at any level that ever declared it had enough revenue to do its job.

isn't that what the government is saying any time they end up with a budget surplus? It definitely happens.

Re: Ontario unveils plan for government chain of marijuana stores

#99

Post by thaumasiotes »

WalterBright wrote: post #97
3pt14159 wrote: post #15

I'm a Toronto native. These are the forces driving this decision: 1. Provincial government is cash poor. The LCBO is a huge source of cash, what government would give up another source? This isn't taxes, this is profit. "Isn't this just another tax?" One might ask, but no it's not. The reason is that Ontario has fewer alcohol distribution centres than a free market would provide. Most people just do a bigger alcohol…

> Provincial government is cash poor. I've never heard of any government at any time at any level that ever declared it had enough revenue to do its job.

It's quite common. Some governments, like some people, would rather not appear to be insolvent.

In Chinese history, there was a time when the government declared a simultaneous tax increase and tax reform because taxes (in grain) often didn't even arrive at the capital. The reform turned out to be so successful that the increase was canceled.

Re: Ontario unveils plan for government chain of marijuana stores

#100

Post by kenned3 »

mynegation wrote: post #73
tekni5 wrote: post #66

If anyone is interested, there is an interesting documentary about the LCBO. Developed by homebrewers, so it's not completely impartial but also quite fair. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn555TyJJw0 Giving government absolute control over distribution of a non-essential product/service is probably not the best idea, but at least it's better than having that product/service be completely illegal. Ideally they should…

As an Ontarian and having previously lived in a country where pretty much anyone can sell alcohol till very late I passionately support LCBO and - as a voter - will support the proposed provincial government controlled marijuana distribution. No, it does not completely prevent alcohol in the hands of minors, late night drinking binges, deaths from methylene, but reduces these cases greatly for sure.

As an Ontarian and having previously lived in a country where pretty much anyone can sell alcohol till very late i find your comment odd.

I lived in the states for several years and you can get liquor at grocery stores, they had private stores which were like 4 times the size and selection of any LCBO.

What i do recall seeing is Toronto Liquor being sold in Connecticut for a full 50% less (bottled in Toronto)..

I dont recall seeing any "problems", in fact it seems Ontario and Connecticut have similiar death rates and Canada is among the worlds highest despite ourarchaic liquor laws from the 1920's which are almost soviet era (wait in line for a ticket, then wait in line for your item).

http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadas-drunk-driving-de...

you can see canada's rates are 5.4 per 100,000 people and you can see Connecticuts rates here http://c-hit.org/2016/01/17/drunk-driving-fatalities-decline...

Perhaps you have a reason why Canada's death rate from impaired driving is actually higher then the US?

PS. I dont even drink, but find it odd the government is in this business and gouges their customers. if it is "bad" for you, why sell it? oh.. thats right.. to stop the bootleggers and fill hte government revenue?

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