Leafly's Cannabis Retail Guide: J. London, London

Cannabis Retail Guide: J. London, London

by Liora Ipsum

J. London wouldn’t look out of place in Toronto’s posh Yorkville neighbourhood, only this cannabis store is located in the southwestern Ontario city of London.

Situated between Urban Outfitters and El Furniture Warehouse, find the upmarket cannabis retailer tucked away from bustling Richmond Row in a corner unit set back from the street.

The store, licensed to Ontario lottery winner Ranjit Basra, is an indie operation shaped with the hired help of consultants. The resulting legal retailer is an upgrade from the illegal dispensary which once operated from a neighbouring unit in the same shopping centre.

Outside, black ropes and giant san serif J. could be mistaken for a hip night club, but inside, it’s cannabis—not cocktails—for sale.

The Vibe

Cannabis culture gets a high-end make over at this bud boutique where glass and concrete contrast against warm woods and polished brass accents. Soft gallery lights put cannabis and accessories on exhibit like precious works of art. Meanwhile, thoughtful customer service offers a multitude purchasing points for every type of consumer.

Customer Service

Shop hi-fi, low-fi, or however you like. Self-serve touch screens and an express counter facilitate fast transactions but there’s no need to rush.

Staff are on hand to answer any questions and invite shoppers to browse oversized menus printed on newspaper and sniff bud samples on display in glass and brass vessels—custom-machined smell jars, monogramed with a perforated J.

More than 20 different growers are represented on the menu, including products from the usual players such as 7Acres, AltaVie, Emerald, Spinach, Up, WeedMD, and more.

Aside from flower, there’s also oils and capsules available as well as a tightly curated selection of accessories showcasing predominately Canadian-made content: Krush cannabis grinders, raw edge Futo rolling trays, and hand blown dab rigs from Nish Glass are among the standouts.

What You Should Know

Like all Ontario cannabis stores, you must be 19+ to enter the store and consumers are required to present a valid ID at reception before proceeding inside.

Street parking is metered on Richmond, and the store, at ground level, is easily accessible for all.