Legal updates, regulatory guidance and practical perspectives for businesses operating in complex industries.
Learn The Rules For Importing Liquor Products into Canada For Resale When foreign liquor manufacturers and their agents look to import alcoholic beverages into Canada for sale, they’ll quickly find that the landscape is quite different from many other markets. Canada’s regulatory framework for alcohol importation is highly centralized and controlled at the provincial and territorial…
Under the federal Tobacco and Vaping Products Act (TVPA), the Tobacco Reporting Regulations (SOR/2000-273) create a rigorous transparency regime for Canadian tobacco manufacturers and importers. Health Canada utilizes these reports to monitor the tobacco market, analyze product toxicity, and guide public health policy. For manufacturers and importers, compliance is not merely about submitting data; it…
Tips To Starting a Restaurant in the Greater Toronto Area Market Research and Concept Development Starting a restaurant in Toronto means you’re jumping into a busy food scene. Before you even think about menus or decor, you really need to get a feel for what’s already out there. This isn’t just about seeing what other…
Legal Status of Magic Mushrooms (Psilocybin) in Canada In Canada, the general legal standing of magic mushrooms, which contain the compound psilocybin, is quite clear: they are classified as controlled substances. This means that producing, selling, or simply possessing them is against the law under federal legislation, specifically the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Think…
Guide to Canada’s Federal Cannabis Laws and Cannabis Regulations The Cannabis Act is Canada’s primary federal law governing the legal production, processing, sale, possession, distribution, promotion, importation, exportation, and research involving cannabis. Since coming into force on October 17, 2018, it has fundamentally transformed Canada’s cannabis industry by replacing criminal prohibition with a comprehensive regulatory…
About AGCO Cannabis Store Conditions Why Conditions Are Placed on Licences The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) places conditions on cannabis retail licences, such as a Retail Operator Licence or Retail Store Authorization, for a few key reasons, all centred around public safety and responsible operation. Think of these conditions as specific rules tailored to…
Conditions On Your AGCO Liquor Sales Licence What are AGCO liquor licence Conditions? Liquor licence conditions are specific rules or requirements that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) places on a liquor licence. These aren’t just suggestions; they are legally binding stipulations that licence holders must follow. Think of them as extra guidelines…
Fortified and Supplemented Foods in Canada: Know the Difference Canada regulates two distinct ways that vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients get added to food: fortification and supplementation. Although both involve adding nutrients to a food product, Health Canada treats them as legally separate regimes with different rules, different permitted foods, and different label requirements. Getting…
Guide to Legally Smoking or Cultivating Cannabis in Your Apartment General Permissibility of Cannabis Consumption Whether you can smoke cannabis in your Ontario-based apartment is a common question now that cannabis is legal. Generally speaking, yes, you can smoke or vape cannabis in your own residential unit, and often on balconies or terraces too, whether…
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Timelines depend on the licence type, how complete the application is and the regulator’s current processing times. We prepare the application and supporting documents so the review runs smoothly, and we give you a realistic timeline at the start.
It depends on the services you provide. Money services businesses register with FINTRAC, and payment service providers performing retail payment activities register with the Bank of Canada under the RPAA. Some businesses need both; we review your model and tell you which apply.
In many cases, yes. A transfer is approved by the provincial regulator and depends on the licence conditions, the premises and the buyer’s eligibility. We handle the filings and coordinate with the other side of the deal.
It depends on the product, its claims and how it is sold. Some products are regulated as drugs or natural health products by Health Canada. We review the product and the sales model and explain what is permitted.
Yes. We advise clients across Canada on federal and provincial regulatory matters, and we coordinate with local counsel where a provincial rule requires it.
We always strive to offer our clients transparent, flexible and reasonable pricing and payment options. Where the scope of the engagement permits, we try to offer our clients innovative, fixed-fee pricing options instead of traditional hourly rates, and payment through EFT, Wire, E-transfer, and Credit/Debit Card.
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We advise clients across Ontario and throughout Canada on regulatory, licensing and compliance matters in cannabis, psychedelics and other regulated industries.
Cannabis retail, consumption and related licensing
Zoning, land use and local approvals
Compliance and enforcement matters
Health Canada, Canada-wide regulatory matters
CRA, excise, FINTRAC and related requirements
Psychedelics, hemp, wellness and emerging sectors
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Canada's Law Firm For Regulated Substances
