Social Responsibility
at the OCS

OUR COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Social responsibility is embedded in the Ontario Cannabis Store’s mandate and is fundamental to achieving our vision: to grow Canada’s largest and most vibrant cannabis marketplace.  

As a Crown agency of the Government of Ontario, our goal is to operate our business in a way that promotes safe, responsible cannabis consumption while also keeping youth and vulnerable populations safe. This is a mandated responsibility we take seriously. Our purpose-driven values will guide us in delivering on the OCS’s social responsibility strategy.  

After conducting online stakeholder and public consultations, and keeping our duty to the people of Ontario in mind, we have focused our social responsibility efforts on three key pillars for 2021–2024: 

1. Sustainability: Establishing a Foundation for Environmental Sustainability
2. Inclusion: Supporting a Diverse & Inclusive Ontario Cannabis Sector
3. Knowledge: Advancing Cannabis Knowledge & Promoting Responsible Consumption

As a public agency, we are committed to corporate transparency and will publish reports outlining our progress, as well as our impact. 

OCS Logo - Sustainability

Sustainability
OCS Logo - Inclusion

Inclusion
OCS Logo - Knowledge

Knowledge
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Establishing a Foundation for Sustainability

The cannabis industry has significantly contributed to plastic manufacturing, consumption and waste in Canada. These are unintended consequences of legalization and a serious concern among the people of Ontario and within the industry.

We are taking steps toward measuring our carbon footprint, with the goal of improving sustainability within our operations.

We are working to better understand how the OCS can improve its operations and will collaborate with others to enhance sustainability standards in our industry. 

We commit to establishing a deeper understanding of the areas in which the OCS can improve its operations and work with stakeholders to advance the industry standards for sustainability.

Examples:
■ Measure and manage the greenhouse gas emissions in connection to our operations
■ Draft a sustainability vision for moving forward  
■ Recognize OCS partners who are demonstrating leadership with respect to sustainability

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Supporting a Diverse & Inclusive Industry

Canada’s legal cannabis industry was born out of grassroots movements and a recognition that its history includes the harmful treatment of equity-deserving communities. As an enabler of success for our industry partners, we commit to strengthening diversity and inclusion within Ontario’s cannabis industry.

The OCS will be establishing programs to support equity and promote diverse societal participation in the industry by 2024.

Examples: 
■ Develop policies and new business practices to support industry partners that are owned by people who identify as Black, Indigenous or as a person of colour
■ Understand gaps in diverse representation within the marketplace and proactively address needs
■ Maintain a workforce at the OCS that is reflective of Ontario’s diverse population

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Advancing Cannabis Knowledge & Promoting Responsible Consumption

Understanding the impacts of cannabis use is a core responsibility that guides our business decisions. We believe it is our responsibility to improve on and share fact-based cannabis information — particularly about responsible consumption — with Ontarians.   

We commit to taking steps to assist the academic community and leading organizations in filling gaps in existing cannabis education.  

Examples: 
■ Provide clear, evidence-based information about cannabis, responsible consumption and the differences between legal and illicit cannabis products
through Cannabis Made Clear
■ Demonstrate that legal products have accurate THC labelling and are free from prohibited pesticides, unlike illicit cannabis products, as reported in partnership with
the Ontario Provincial Police
■ Create new channels to disseminate information for employees, retailers and consumers, to enable access to robust cannabis knowledge
■ Support organizations that will mobilize and share knowledge of lower-risk and responsible consumption with all Ontarians, particularly vulnerable populations
■ Provide harm reduction tips for safer cannabis consumption and resources on cannabis use disorder
■ Deliver unbiased information about the potential physical and mental health effects of cannabis consumption