The Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) published its inaugural Good All Around Social Impact Report to recap the progress it has made under its first Social Responsibility Strategy from 2021 to the end of 2023.
OCS was under a lot of criticism from the industry about being the most profitable cannabis company in the industry while private companies are struggling. The agency also amassed a large sum of money, so it’s good to see them spending some of that for social good.
The Social Impact Report summarizes the OCS’s strategic social responsibility objectives and illustrates how the organization is driving positive change in the areas of environmental sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and cannabis literacy.
Tanya Watkins, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Social Responsibility and Strategic Engagement, OCS says, “As a key pillar of the OCS’s corporate strategy, social responsibility has helped to shape and define who we are as an organization. We’re proud to introduce the Social Impact Report as a visual representation of the progress we’ve made through social responsibility programming designed to inform and engage Ontarians as we enable a vibrant cannabis marketplace.”
Highlights of Programs
Highlights from the OCS’s first three years of social responsibility programming include:
- Distributed $500,000 to six organizations in support of cannabis research and community-based programming through the Social Impact Fund
- Provided 26 equity and access grants designed to increase the presence and participation of equity-deserving groups and small businesses at industry events
- Invested $319,000 in Black-led initiatives
- Drove over 600,000 visitors to the OCS’s Cannabis Made Clear resource hub for unbiased, fact-based and current cannabis education
Promoting Responsible Consumption
David Lobo, President and CEO, OCS says, “The OCS has a mission to enable Canada’s largest and most vibrant cannabis marketplace through great customer experiences—including promoting safe access to legal cannabis, educating on responsible consumption and fostering a legal industry that reflects the population it serves. The Social Impact Report isn’t just a reflection of what we have achieved; it is a testament to our entire team’s commitment to environmental sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and improving cannabis literacy through education.”
As a Crown agency of the Government of Ontario and wholesale distributor of legal cannabis in the province, the OCS is determined to operate its business in a way that promotes the responsible consumption of cannabis while protecting youth and vulnerable populations.
Moving forward, the OCS will regularly publish the Social Impact Report to provide ongoing progress updates related to priority social responsibility objectives.
To read the report in full, visit the OCS’s Social Impact Report page.