Cannabis in London

Legal age

19+

Public possession

30 g dried (or equivalent)

Tax at the till

13% HST plus federal excise duty built into the shelf price; no city cannabis tax

Online

Only ocs.ca is a legal online seller

Local status

City council opted in to private stores in January 2019

Lounges

None licensed in Ontario

London had a head start: council voted to allow private cannabis stores before the province's January 22, 2019 opt-out deadline, with just one councillor against. Seven years on, the city has one of the denser store counts in southwestern Ontario for its size. That density is the useful part for a buyer. You rarely need to drive far, but you do need to check that the shop you walk into is on the provincial register.

Which London roads have the most stores?

Stores follow the arterial roads rather than a single district. Counting authorized addresses in the AGCO register (September 2026), the heaviest strips are:

Counts come from street addresses in the register and will drift as stores open, close or transfer licences.

Is every London cannabis shop legal?

Only stores holding a Retail Store Authorization from the AGCO may sell recreational cannabis in person. Authorized stores must post their authorization and sell product supplied through the Ontario Cannabis Store, which means excise-stamped packaging. A shop without a listing on the AGCO status page, or one selling unstamped edibles or offering sales to people under 19, is not a legal retailer. Our Verdex Red List tracks sellers and websites that have been flagged. For the full provincial picture, see Ontario cannabis rules and ratings.

What will you pay at the register?

Shelf prices in Ontario already include federal excise duty. The 13% HST is added at checkout, the same as other retail goods in the province. London has no municipal cannabis levy. Prices differ between chains and independents, so comparing a few stores on the same road is normal practice here.

Where can you consume in London?

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act treats smoking or vaping cannabis much like tobacco: not in enclosed public places, workplaces, on restaurant and bar patios, near playgrounds or on school property. No one in Ontario holds a licence for a consumption lounge, so a store cannot let you use on-site. Driving impaired is a Criminal Code offence, and cannabis in a vehicle must be sealed or out of reach. If you're unsure how your use pattern stacks up, try the cannabis use check. First-time buyers should read what to bring and ask on a first dispensary visit.