The Government of Ontario has allocated one cannabis retail store to North Bay.
In the latest round of licencing, 50 new private cannabis retail stores will move ahead after a lottery process. This time around, the government is ensuring certain markets receive licences.
In the inaugural licencing lottery, two spots were allocated to a vast Northern Ontario region and both successful applicants set up shop in Sudbury.
North Bay, Kenora, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins are guaranteed cannabis shops by the government following the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario’s “Second Allocation Expression of Interest Lottery.” To ensure the lottery and allocation process are conducted fairly, the AGCO will again employ a third-party fairness monitor.
The province says, “50 new private cannabis retail stores will be authorized upon meeting all requirements and approved to open on a rolling basis, beginning in October 2019, as they conclude their supply agreements with the Ontario Cannabis Store.”
Of the 50 new private cannabis retail stores being licensed, the government is allocating eight stores to retailers who wish to operate on a First Nations reserve, and the remaining 42 stores allocated as follows:
- East Region: seven stores
- GTA Region: six stores
- Toronto Region: 13 stores
- West Region: 11 stores
- North Region: one store in each of Kenora, North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay and Timmins
The licencing and store authorization process for stores on-reserve will take place through a separate process from the lottery, on a first come, first served basis, and begin this month. Details regarding this process are available on the AGCO website.