OCS to Launch Fake "Cannabis Shop" Pop-Up in Toronto
OCS to Launch Fake “Cannabis Shop” Pop-Up in Toronto to Raise Awareness About Illegal Stores. In a unique effort to highlight the difference between legal and illegal cannabis retailers, the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) is opening a pop-up “Buzzkill” shop in Toronto. Set to open on October 17, 2024, the pop-up will run at 474 Queen Street West, coinciding with the sixth anniversary of cannabis legalization in Canada.
The OCS aims to educate consumers about the risks of purchasing cannabis from unregulated sources. Many customers may not realize they’re buying from illegal dispensaries or assume that all cannabis products are the same. The OCS wants to challenge this misconception by driving home the message that buying legal means buying safe.
The pop-up won’t actually sell cannabis. Instead, visitors will encounter mock products with humorous and exaggerated warnings to emphasize the potential hazards of unregulated cannabis. One such satirical product, “Pesti Cider,” jokingly highlights the presence of dangerous pesticides in illegal cannabis, showing how unregulated products can carry hidden risks.
According to Amanda Winton, Manager of Communications and Strategic Engagement at the OCS,
“This campaign is designed to grab attention and spark conversation about the importance of choosing legal, tested cannabis products.”
Through this initiative, the OCS hopes to inform consumers and steer them towards safer purchasing options. The Buzzkill pop-up is a key element of the OCS’s larger Buy Legal campaign, which kicked off on October 7 and runs through November 30. As part of this initiative, the OCS has launched a dedicated page, buy legal, featuring educational resources that stress the importance of third-party testing for cannabis products—a safety measure often lacking in unregulated and illicit market offerings. This campaign aims to raise awareness about the critical differences between legal and illegal cannabis to help consumers make informed, safe choices.
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