the reality here in ontario is not likely to change any time soon.

they have to get the federal bill passed, first. the liberals have converted the senate from a rubber stamp into a question mark, so it's not even clear if it will make it through the new guardian council. then, the province needs to write and pass legislation. lastly, somebody will have to decide that it's even worth opening a store over, and it might not be - at least not here.

we haven't had any illegal dispensaries appear, but we do have a pot lounge that lets people smoke inside. it's illustrative of the reality of the situation on the ground: these stores aren't really necessary for distribution.

in fact, here in windsor, i wouldn't expect to see dedicated storefronts at all. nobody would ever bother - they'd just have to start paying taxes. the only way the government supply chain is going to appear is if it goes through the lcbo or the beer store. and, if the price isn't set properly, it will just sit on the shelves.

i know that this isn't what most people want, or what most people want to hear, but it's the truth of it - this idea of dedicated pot stores doesn't make any economic sense. it's just going to over price it to a point that it can't compete with established dealers. if you want it on the shelves, it has to come with almost no overhead.

frankly, i'd like to see it sold at the corner store. but, we can't buy beer at the corner stores here, either.