Letters have been sent to municipalities across Ontario to advise them of the next steps in the province’s plan to establish retail outlets for legal marijuana sales.
“Ontario continues to prepare for the federal government’s plan to legalize cannabis by July 2018 by working with municipalities to identify possible store locations,” states an Oct. 27 joint press release from the finance and attorney general’s ministries.
In September, the province announced a framework to govern the lawful use and retail distribution of cannabis as a “carefully controlled substance,” the release states.
This framework includes the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) overseeing retail sales through new stand-alone stores and online ordering.
Last week, letters were sent to all municipalities in Ontario to share the next steps for establishing retail stores. The process will be led by the LCBO, working closely with the government and local communities.
The release states, two primary considerations will be used to guide the identification of municipalities where stores will be located:
– to achieve geographic distribution of stores across the province; and
– to reduce the number of illegal stores, including dispensaries, in operation.
The LCBO will utilize guidelines to identify specific store locations with the objective of ensuring that youth are protected and the illegal market is addressed. This includes ensuring stores are not located in close proximity to schools.
Once a prospective store site has been identified by the LCBO, a notice will be posted online and at the location to let the public know that a space has been selected for a proposed storefront. There will be an opportunity for the public to ask questions and provide feedback on the proposed location.
Under the proposed approach, about 150 standalone stores will be opened by 2020, including 40 by July 2018 and rising to 80 by July 2019. Online distribution will also be available to service all regions of the province.
“The government will evaluate how this approach is working throughout the rollout to ensure that the goals of safe, responsible sales of cannabis and elimination of the illegal market are achieved.”
Ontario is proposing to set the minimum age to purchase and use recreational cannabis at 19 years old, the same as alcohol and tobacco.
