CanadaHealth

Smoke-Free Ontario Act to Keep Vapes Hidden at Cannabis Stores

Published on June 10, 2019 · Last updated July 28, 2020
vaporizer retail store vape
Jesse Milns/Leafly

If you’re a non-smoker who values your lungs, there’s a lot to like about the Smoke Free Ontario Act.

But then there are the parts of it that don’t make any sense at all, and included in one of those is the law that says if you sell a vaping device, you may neither show it to customers before they buy it, nor let them handle it.Join the Leafly Canada CommunitySince vaporizing cannabis is considered by most to be a healthier alternative to smoking, one might imagine there’s an error in there somewhere, except the GTA’s Peel Region health inspectors have made it clear they’re coming for any vape retailer who allows customers to see or handle the forbidden devices.

Inspectors are adamant they’re doing nothing more than following the law, and to that end, have made multiple visits to warn Nilsson Gonsalves, owner of GTA head shop Culture Rising, against letting customers consider devices that present a healthier alternative to smoking.

Instead, he’s supposed to sell them out of a catalogue or by showing customers a computer display of what the devices look like.

When premium vaporizer devices can cost north of $300, forcing a customer to pay before they can see or test the product in their hands may seem bizarre on both sides of the transaction.

“It killed my sales by about 30% right away,” said Gonsalves to Global News.

Shop highly rated stores near you

Showing you stores near
See all stores
Jesse B. Staniforth
Jesse B. Staniforth
Jesse Staniforth reports on cannabis, food safety, and Indigenous issues. He is the former editor of WeedWeek Canada.
View Jesse B. Staniforth's articles
Get good reads, local deals, and strain spotlights delivered right to your inbox.

By providing us with your email address, you agree to Leafly's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.



Stay In Touch

Receive updates on new products, special offers, and industry news.

By providing us with your email address, you agree to Leafly's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Leafly mobile app
Get high for less.
Download the Leafly app.
Download Leafly: Marijuana Reviews on the App Store
Download Leafly Marijuana Reviews on Google Play




The material provided on Leafly is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Leafly is not engaged in rendering medical service or advice and the information provided is not a substitute for a professional medical opinion. If you have a medical problem, please contact a qualified health professional.


© 2024 Leafly, LLC
Leafly and the Leafly logo are registered trademarks of Leafly, LLC. All Rights Reserved.