Now that recreational cannabis has been legalized in Canada, high quality and lab tested product has become easily available to Ontarians through the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) website which can be found at OCS.ca.
For now, the government operated OCS offers online sales only and is currently the only place for consumers to legally purchase recreational marijuana. Bricks-and-mortar storefronts and dispensaries are set to open until April of this year.
Aside from being the only legal way to buy weed, there are plenty of reasons to purchase through the OCS. This includes the assurance of lab tested products, availability of detailed product information, abundant choices and customer safety. Ordering is easy and shipping times are fast, with orders scheduled to arrive within 1-3 business days of purchase.
Individual orders are capped at 30 grams of dried cannabis flower, which is also the maximum amount that can be carried legally in public, but multiple (separate) orders may be placed.
Dried flower prices range from about CAD$7.50 to CAD$13.25 per gram and payments can be made with Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, Mastercard Debit, Amex or pre-paid credit cards. Shipping is via Canada Post and requires a flat rate fee of $5.65. At the time of writing this article, there are 75 different strains of dried cannabis flower available for purchase, but that number is set to increase to around 150 soon.
What does the OCS sell?
The menu at the OCS is extensive, including dried cannabis flower (buds), pre-rolled joints, gel capsules, and cannabis oils. Consumers can even buy seeds and cannabis accessories like pipes, bongs, vapes, papers, filters, storage items, cleaning supplies and more.
The actual cannabis products are intuitively arranged into categories so consumers can easily find what they’re looking for, and individual product types are also separated into the three main categories of cannabis strains – Indica, Sativa and Hybrids.
The store also provides a large learning section dedicated to providing customers with cannabis facts, tips and legal rules to help educate consumers about how cannabis works, how to consume it safely and what effects to expect. There is an FAQ section that provides answers to most questions consumers might have about cannabis or making a purchase through the OCS. Also included is a guide to choosing the right cannabis strain for your needs.
How does ordering from the OCS work?
To view the OCS website or place an order, consumers must verify they are over 19 years of age. Customers do not need to create an account to place an order, but a valid ID will be required at the time of delivery. Order processing is handled by Ottawa’s own Shopify to ensure a smooth ordering and payment process. A valid Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, Mastercard Debit, American Express or pre-paid credit is required to complete payment but support for other payment options will be added down the road.
Orders arrive in non-descript Canada Post boxes which contain the products along with a leaflet (in both English and French) containing information about cannabis consumption, effects, laws and health hazards. Also contained is the actual cannabis product, packaged in very sterile, medical looking jars, bags or other containers that are sealed by a holographic government excise seal.
Steps to making a purchase with the OCS
- Visit the Ontario Cannabis Store website at OCS.ca. Mobile access is through a web browser only – there is no OCS app currently available
- Complete the age verification to enter the site
- Choose to visit the learning sections or head straight to ordering a product (OCSlearn.ca is a great source for valuable information about cannabis)
- Browse and select any products you’d like to order by adding them to cart
- Each cannabis product page shows valuable information about the product, including brand, licensed producer, product description, price (including taxes), THC and CBD percentages, plant type, contained terpenes and a description of the aroma and taste customers can expect
- Sticking with public carry laws, the maximum order allowed is 30 grams of cannabis at a single time. However, several orders may be placed.
- Once ready to checkout, customers may currently only make payments using Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, Mastercard Debit, AMEX or pre-paid credit cars but additional payment options will be made available in the future
- Before completing checkout, customers will be required to confirm they are 19 years of age or older and must accept the OCS terms and conditions
- There is currently only one shipping option available through Canada Post and it costs a flat rate of CAD$5.65 (taxes included). Orders will arrive between 1-3 business days
- Purchases from the OCS will be delivered in plain packaging and handed over only to persons who are 19 years of age or older. If the person who is accepting delivery of the package looks under the age of 25, a valid ID will be required for verification. If no one answers the door to receive the package, it will be returned to the nearest post office. Note that condominium concierges are not able to accept deliveries from the OCS
- The OCS currently offers a 14-day Return Policy for all cannabis product orders. Any cannabis products may be returned for refund within 14 days of delivery provided they are in their original condition (unopened). Payments will be refunded to the original payment method that was used to make the purchase. All accessories are final sale and returns are not accepted
Choosing products
Choosing which strains of cannabis to order can be a tough decision when there are so many different varieties to choose from. This is especially true for customers not familiar with cannabis.
First, we suggest learning about the different types of products, like dried flower, pre-rolls, capsules or oils – and choosing the type that best suits your needs. Keep in mind that oils and capsules will deliver a different (stronger) effect than dried flower or pre-rolled joints.
Once you’ve narrowed it down, it’s recommended to spend some time browsing through all the product options. Pay attention to the plant type, THC or CBD percentages, terpene profiles and price. Many strains have been rebranded to different names to place an emphasis on the chemical constitution of the product instead of cannabis folklore.
Dried flower and oils or capsules are generally the most popular items to order but can also be the most confusing and expensive. This makes pre-rolled joints a great option to help with becoming familiar with the multitude of strains available and how they affect you. Our very own Indiva Pre-Rolls are a good choice and will be available for purchase on the OCS soon.
Regardless of which type of product or strain you choose, purchasing through the OCS makes it easy to obtain a high-quality product that is tested for safety and includes reliable product information. This helps enable customers to make informed decisions about what to purchase and about the responsible use of cannabis and cannabis products. Everything is also delivered straight to your door – it’s easy and convenient.
The Ontario Cannabis Store is currently the only legal seller of recreational cannabis in Ontario.
OCS Privacy
The OCS collects only the information that is necessary to successfully complete a transaction. All information is kept confidential, will not be shared for any purpose and will never be sold to a third party.
Shopping with the OCS does not require the creation of a user account and all shipments are delivered in non-descript packaging for purchase privacy.
OCS Trust
All cannabis from the OCS has been quality verified and can be tracked back to its licensed producer and products have detailed content information displayed, including THC or CBD percentages and the terpene profile. All cannabis sold is in accordance with the strict guidelines for the production and regulation of cannabis set out by Health Canada.
- All OCS suppliers are federally licensed
- OCS offers comprehensive product information
- All OCS products are packaged for safe storage and consumption
- All cannabis sold by the OCS is deemed all-natural
- All information provided by the OCS is factual and based on evidence from research studies conducted by Health Canada, The National Centre for Biotechnology Information and other experts, researchers and scientists studying medical and recreational cannabis
Rules for purchase and possession
- The OCS is currently the only legal seller of recreational cannabis in Ontario. Any other means of purchase are illegal
- Only those 19 years of age or older can legally purchase cannabis from the OCS
- Only those 19 years of age or older can receive delivery of an order from the OCS
- The maximum purchase amount for dried cannabis flower is 30 grams at any one time. Multiple separate orders are allowed
- 30 grams of dried cannabis flower is the legal maximum that can be carried in public in Ontario
- Ontario residents are legally allowed to grow a maximum of 4 cannabis plants per residence
Consumption of cannabis
Consuming cannabis is legal inside private residences and in some public areas.
Cannabis consumption is illegal in:
- All workplaces and enclosed public areas
- Indoor common areas of condominiums, apartments and school residences
- In schools or on school grounds including within 20 metres of schoolgrounds or community centres
- Where smoking cigarettes is also illegal – on patios or public areas and within 9 metres of a patio
- Playgrounds for children
- Certain Ontario government buildings, hospitals and their outdoor grounds
- Publicly owned sports areas, excluding golf courses
- Vehicles and boats that are being operated by the user or those that are under someone’s care or control