The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, Sept 13, edition that Ontario Justice David Corbett has frozen the province's cannabis retail licensing process for at least two weeks.
The Globe's Jameson Berkow writes that 12 of the original 42 winners of the Aug. 20 lottery draw were disqualified for failing to submit all the required application materials within five business days of the results and one voluntarily withdrew. All 13 were replaced by other names.
All but one of those disqualified for not filing applications on time filed a legal challenge of that decision this week requesting the licencing process be frozen until their case can be heard.
Justice Corbett issued a preliminary decision Thursday to freeze the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario review process.
Justice Corbett "was not persuaded that a two-week delay is going to cause anyone irreparable harm," said cannabis lawyer Caryma Sa'd. He added: "However, [he said he did] believe that if he paused only part of the process and not all of it, that will cause chaos. He decided the lesser of two evils was to pause the process for everyone." The preliminary decision means "AGCO should temporarily halt the lottery process" until a Sept 25 hearing.
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