Ontario cannabis retailers frustrated after recent string of robberies

| David Brown

Some Ontario cannabis retailers are again calling on the provincial government to make changes to provincial rules that they say are making them targets for robberies and break-ins.

Following a recent series of robberies and break-ins, cannabis retailers in the province are again highlighting provincial regulations that they say require their windows to have blackout coverings, preventing people from seeing inside and putting their stores at greater risk for robbery and burglary. 

Although provincial regulations only require that cannabis stores must ensure that cannabis and accessories are not visible from the exterior of the premises, many store owners say provincial inspectors have pushed them to interpret this as requiring coverings across all public-facing windows. 

Jazz Samra, the owner and founder of Sativa Bliss Cannabis, with five locations in Ontario, says he would like to see the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), which oversees provincial regulations, take action.

“This isn’t even making the news outside the cannabis industry and our own little bubble. It’s just within our network that we’re finding out about these robberies because we’re warning each other. This is how we’re trying to protect each other.”

Jazz Samra, Sativa Bliss Cannabis

“Ontario cannabis retailers are part of the legal, regulated economy,” says Samra. “We deserve the same level of security as any other business. I urge the Ontario Government and AGCO to remove the window covering requirement before it’s too late.”

Saini removing coverings from his windows

Samra says he was spurred to make this call after a series of recent cannabis store robberies in the city of Brampton. A representative with Peel Regional Police, which covers the Brampton area, confirmed one incident at a cannabis store on December 9, two on January 19, and one on January 20. In all of these incidents cannabis and/or cash was taken and no arrests made. The investigations are ongoing.

Raju Saini, the president at Piffingtons Cannabis Co., which has stores in Brampton, Kitchener, and Milton, says that following a recent armed robbery at his Brampton store on January 20, he has now decided to remove such window coverings, regardless of provincial requirements. 

The covers make it easier for criminals’ actions inside a store to go undetected, says Saini, and also make it harder for those inside the store to see potential robbers coming. 

“We’re actually taking the right steps now to go in the direction of protecting my staff as well as the other individuals in our community that come visit our store, and I suggest everyone else to do so.”

Saini says he is part of a network of retailers who communicate with each other about such issues. Because of this, he recognized the vehicle associated with the three other recent robberies in Brampton when it pulled up next to his store. However, when he went to confront them, he says he saw they were carrying firearms, leading him to reconsider his efforts. 

“We’re actually taking the right steps now to go in the direction of protecting my staff as well as the other individuals in our community that come visit our store, and I suggest everyone else to do so.”

Raju Saini, Piffingtons Cannabis Co

Samra, at Sativa Bliss, says communication among retailers is important because there is so little reporting of this ongoing issue, leaving many feeling their concerns are neglected and ignored.

“We are not hearing anything from any government about this right now,” says Samra. “This isn’t even making the news outside the cannabis industry and our own little bubble. It’s just within our network that we’re finding out about these robberies because we’re warning each other. This is how we’re trying to protect each other.”

In addition, he says the window coverings add to a negative public perception of cannabis, adding to the existing stigma around the plant and the industry itself.

“When you have those window conversing the public is always thinking there must be something illegal or unsavoury happening. And I don’t think after five or six years we should have to be fighting the battles.”

“To be clear, the AGCO’s regulatory standards do not require cannabis retail stores to cover their windows. Through continued engagement with licensees and sector partners, we use every opportunity to remind that the Standards only specify that products must not be visible from outside the store.”

A media representative for the AGCO

Katy Perry, founder and CEO at TOKE Cannabis, which has eight retail locations in Ontario, tells StratCann she took her own window covers down years ago, and in some instances never put any up. 

“First, the window coverings further stigmatize cannabis consumption. It’s unnecessary. Secondly, it’s quite dangerous for our staff. No one can see from the outside in and we can’t see out. They can just go in, lock the doors and do terrible things to the people who work there and nobody walking down the street is the wiser.

“In some of my stores I never put the coverings up and I told AGCO it’s dangerous. I’m not going to put my budtenders in harm’s way.”

Perry spoke with inspectors about the issue, who she says confirmed such coverings are not required. 

“Some inspectors were more accepting of it immediately, while some we had a longer conversation with. Some inspectors believed the window coverings were necessary, but when we broke down the regulations, it’s not a rule you have to have a window covering, just that cannabis products cannot be seen from outside.”

“In some of my stores I never put the coverings up and I told AGCO it’s dangerous. I’m not going to put my budtenders in harm’s way.”

Katy Perry, TOKE Cannabis,

A representative for the AGCO provided this comment to StratCann.

“Like everyone in the sector, the AGCO is concerned by the series of recent robberies at cannabis retail stores in Ontario and the safety of store employees. We’ve been in contact with affected licensees and police services and will continue to assist in every way we can. 

“To be clear, the AGCO’s regulatory standards do not require cannabis retail stores to cover their windows. Through continued engagement with licensees and sector partners, we use every opportunity to remind that the Standards only specify that products must not be visible from outside the store. Licensees can determine how best to meet this standard including through approaches such as interior wall dividers, opaque cabinetry, the layout of their shelving and other approaches.  

“We continue to pay attention to this matter with the goal of supporting licensees in enhancing the safety of their employees and the security of their stores.”

Note: This article has been updated to include the above comments from the AGCO.

Retailers in other provinces have also made similar arguments about provincial requirements for window coverings. In 2022, Alberta removed such requirements. At the time, the provincial regulator’s executive VP said the board approved the change “to ensure that AGLC policy is not inadvertently contributing to [criminals] targeting these locations due to a lack of visibility into the site”.  

In 2023, BC’s cannabis regulator removed similar requirements for stores in that province, citing similar security concerns. Both provincial regulators had previously argued that such requirements were in line with federal regulations before walking it back. 

Cannabis stores in Canada, however, continue to be targets for robbers and burglars, including in provinces that have removed such requirements.

In December 2023, Calgary Police identified suspects in a string of at least a dozen cannabis store robberies. Three teens were recently charged in connection with several of those robberies.

In November 2024, Renfrew OPP were looking for three suspects in a cannabis store robbery. In the same month, Calgary police arrested a man involved in several cannabis store robberies.

In December 2024, police in Ontario arrested one man in connection to a cannabis store robbery, and in January one man was arrested and $3,000 in cannabis products were recovered following multiple break-and-enters in Windsor.In January, police in Quebec arrested a man following a robbery at the Saint-Georges SQDC.

Featured image of Spiritleaf in Brampton, via Google Maps

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