Abraham Jewett  |  February 21, 2023

Category: Discrimination

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Marijuana Joint with no smoking sign
(Photo Credit: Ground Picture/Shutterstock)

Cannabis discrimination class action lawsuit overview: 

  • Who: Gabriel Bélanger of Origami Extractions Inc. filed a class action lawsuit against National Bank, Bank of Montreal, TD Bank, Royal Bank, CIBC and Desjardins Group. 
  • Why: Bélanger claims the Canadian banks discriminate against the legal cannabis community by allegedly refusing to provide them with financing and current bank accounts, among other things. 
  • Where: The cannabis discrimination is allegedly nationwide. 

Six of Canada’s major banks discriminate against the legal cannabis industry by refusing to provide them with financing and current bank accounts, among other things, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff Gabriel Bélanger, of Origami Extractions Inc., claims National Bank, Bank of Montreal, TD Bank, Royal Bank, CIBC and Desjardins Group inflicted harm on those in the cannabis industry. 

Canadian banks treated cannabis industry like ‘pariahs,’ according to lawyer statement

Bélanger argues the banks not only allegedly refuse to finance and open bank accounts for individuals in the cannabis industry but also won’t cooperate with “completely legal” international operations. 

“For far too long, Canadian banks have treated the cannabis industry like pariahs, as if it was still completely illegal. By doing so, they are depriving the Canadian but especially the local economy of developing a promising market,” Groupe SGF says in a statement

Bélanger filed the cannabis lawsuit on behalf of all individuals and businesses that are either directly or indirectly involved in the cannabis industry and who experienced any difficulties when dealing with the named Canadian banks. 

In other cannabis-related news, the Ontario Cannabis Store reported last year that some of its sales data, including the revenue and sales data from several of its store locations in Ontario had been compromised in a data breach

Have you experienced discrimination within the cannabis industry? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiff is represented by Groupe SGF. 


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