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AGCO / OCSOntario Cannabis Law

Excise Tax & OCS Markup in Ontario

Cannabis operators in Ontario face Canada's federal excise duty (greater of $1/g or 10% of selling price) plus Ontario's distribution markup applied through the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS). Ontario collects the provincial share of the cannabis excise duty under the federal-provincial revenue-sharing framework. The OCS markup structure directly affects retail price competitiveness and operator margins.

Key Takeaways

  • Federal excise duty applies to all Canadian cannabis producers — greater of $1/g or 10%
  • Ontario receives a share of federal cannabis excise duty under the federal-provincial agreement
  • OCS applies a margin/markup when distributing to authorized retailers
  • Operators should model the full cost stack: production costs + excise + OCS margin + retailer margin

Key Terms

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