By: Victoria Craib, Student-at-Law

Under Ontario cannabis law, all cannabis retail staff, managers, and license holders are required to complete the CannSell retail certification program prior to their first day of work. Developed by Lift & Co. in partnership with M.A.D.D. Canada, the CannSell program educates cannabis retail employees on the responsible sale of cannabis, as well as the individual’s legal and regulatory obligations. CannSell is the only mandatory retail cannabis training program in the province approved by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (“AGCO”).

Effective January 2, 2020, the CannSell retail certification program will now include an online training module on edibles, extracts, and topicals. This new module will include basic knowledge about these new classes of cannabis, explain how consumption methods affect consumer experience, outline recommendations for responsible use, and contain requirements for ensuring the responsible sale and consumption of these cannabis products.

Individuals that have obtained their CannSell certification prior to January 2, 2020 are given until March 2, 2020 to complete the new 1-hour module on edibles, extracts, and topicals as a standalone course. For these certified individuals, the new module is available for free from January 2 until January 15, 2020. Thereafter, the module will cost $10.00 + HST to complete.

Individuals who have not obtained their CannSell certification prior to January 2, 2020 are required to complete the entire CannSell program, which has been updated to include the new module on edibles, extracts, and topicals, and must do so before their first day of work. The cost of the program has increased to $64.99 + HST and is estimated to now take 5 hours to complete.

For more information about the new module and updated program, feel free to contact Whitney Abrams at 416-369-4148 or wabrams@mindengross.com.