THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay cannabis consumers aren’t expected to face bare shelves at local shops due to a cyber attack impacting the Ontario Cannabis Store, but could have a harder time finding specific products.
Owners of two local cannabis shops expressed optimism Wednesday their existing supplies will last through a disruption to delivery by the OCS, the province’s only legal cannabis supplier for retail stores and online buyers alike.
The OCS announced Monday an Aug. 5 cyberattack on distribution partner Domain Logistics had left it unable to process or deliver orders.
The agency hasn’t yet confirmed when service will be restored, though store owners reported recent communications from the OCS expressing hope that could happen within 72 hours.
That would be a short enough disruption to avoid causing supply problems for Algoma Street shop High Society Cannabis Co., said co-owner Yasas Weerasingha.
“We try to stock up decently, because we have quite a bit of space here,” he said. “I’d say we can probably last for at least two weeks just with what we have.”
The store has compensated for delivery delays in part by bringing in products from a sister store in Marathon.
While he’s not yet worried about running out, Weerasingha expects to see customers stocking up in the coming days.
“We had customers call in all throughout yesterday after they saw the news,” he said. “They want to make sure they can come in and get their supply.”
Gayle Buzzi of J. Supply Co., on Memorial Avenue, agreed the issues caused for stores remain manageable at this point.
“We have enough stock to get us through a couple of weeks,” she said. “We will run out of some popular products, but luckily our budtenders are well-equipped to suggest an alternate product. I would say to customers that maybe this is a good week to try something new.”
She reported few inquiries or worries from the public so far.
In a statement Tuesday evening, the OCS indicated cybersecurity experts would be spending the following 24 hours assessing Domain Logistics’s systems to ensure they are not compromised.
The OCS has maintained there is no evidence its own systems were targeted, nor had customer information seemingly been compromised.
The agency plans to waive retailer delivery fees through the end of September, as well as a $500 processing fee for one emergency order per store, “as a goodwill gesture.”
