Pot store owners pushing for end to rule that products can’t be visible from front window

Cannabis store owners are pushing for the end to a rule that requires them to make sure their products aren’t visible from the front window of the store.

Elisa Keay and her husband, Paul, have owned K’s Pot Shop in Leslieville for just over three years and are concerned the frosting of their windows to hide the cannabis products is a security risk.

“I’ve had colleagues have robberies in their stores, assaults in their stores. There’s really a security concern because we’re enclosed, we’re shut off.”

Keay said robbing pot stores has seemingly become a crime of opportunity.

“With the frosted windows, it was giving criminals a chance to come in and do whatever they want and have lots of time to do it because nobody could see that anything was going on,” explained Keay.

“Now we carry panic buttons. We have a lot of security measures inside the store. But it’s still that outer layer of concern where someone comes in [and] they can do whatever they want.”

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), which regulates cannabis retail stores, said the Ontario regulations do not require cannabis stores to cover their windows, but require that the product and accessories are “not visible from the exterior of the store.”

“There are many ways in which this requirement can be met without completely covering windows or blocking all visibility into the store. Store owners can choose how best to meet this requirement in a way that protects the safety of their employees and security of their store,” read their statement to CityNews, adding some have their displays face completely inward.

They add this standard mirrors the requirements in the Federal Cannabis Act.

“The AGCO reviews and revises the Standards on a regular basis to ensure they are effective in mitigating risks as the cannabis retail sector evolves.”

Last year, Alberta made a decision to no longer require cannabis stores to have coverings after a string of robberies.

At the time, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) stressed retailers shouldn’t use this as an opportunity to replace window coverings with outward-facing promotions and advertising materials, thus defeating the purpose of this robbery prevention tactic.

Keay said completely redesigning their store would be very expensive and a challenge. “[For] a lot of stores just the design is expensive and redesigning now that regulations are a little clearer or the alternatives are a little bit better is difficult.”

When they opened during COVID-19 pandemic, frosting the windows was the best option available to them in order to adhere to the regulations.

“I only know a handful [of stores] that don’t have frosted windows and they do have different ways of obscuring the window. But the majority, it’s a challenge”

Keay said four-and-a-half years into cannabis legalization, they’ve shown that they can handle pot sales responsibly and respectfully. “We have a lot of reporting and a lot of oversight. And I feel like we’re managing that quite well.”

“I think we’ve seen that the harm that’s potentially caused by having the frosted windows probably outweighs the harm that will be caused from being able to see into the store,” she added.

And the reason for the window coverings, so that they are not advertising to minors, is a moot point as the packaging that is mandated for them to use by the province isn’t enticing to children.

“When you look at the packaging and you’re looking at this plain black or plain white or small labels, small writing, nothing really compelling about this package and in fact, if I show you the packaging, you can’t tell one product from another, so how we don’t understand how seeing this very plain packaging from the street could possibly induce children to be interested in cannabis products.”

Being able to not have their windows covered also would make them feel more a part of the streetscape and make the space a little more welcoming for other customers.

“We’re inside of this box and were removed from the streetscape. We don’t feel part of the community. You wouldn’t realize what my story is by walking by it’s doesn’t the window doesn’t allow for merchandising. It doesn’t allow for sort of a peep into what’s going on in here,” shared Keay.

“We’d like to see this world changed … I want a streetscape and [to be] a part of the community but my window cuts us off. You’re walking around in a very walkable area, and suddenly you get to this very bland window with a name on it. And it really doesn’t jive with that kind of creating a very walkable streetscape in a very open and compelling neighborhood.”