Cannabis stores across Ontario will have to close as of Saturday night after the provincial government removed them from their list of essential businesses.
Many non-essential businesses in the province have been closed under government order since March 24, but cannabis and liquor stores have remained open.
At the time the initial list of what would remain open and what would have to close during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said mental health and addiction experts voiced that is was “absolutely critical” to keep these stores open.
“There are people out there with addictions and we’re here to support them,” he said.
However, the provincial government released a revised list of essential businesses on Friday, stating that those no longer classified as essential must close by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday.
