50 New Cannabis Store Licences to be Issued

By AM800 News

Published: July 3, 2019 at 2:24 PM

BERLIN, GERMANY - AUGUST 13: An activists smokes a marijuana joint prior to marching in the annual Hemp Parade (Hanfparade) on August 13, 2016 in Berlin, Germany. German proponents of cannabis legalization are hoping that the legalization in several states in the USA in recent years will increase the likelihood of legalization in Germany. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)(Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

The AGCO will hold a second lottery with 50 licences up for grabs

Ontario is getting ready to welcome 50 more cannabis stores to the province, including 11 in the west region such as Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, the provincial regulator for cannabis retail storefronts, has been given the green light to hold a second lottery with 50 licences up for grabs.

Interested parties can submit an expression of interest form online to the AGCO this summer.

There are new pre-qualification requirements to make sure cannabis retail operators are ready.

During the first round, 25 retailers were chosen to open cannabis storefronts on April 1st — but less than half met the deadline.

The 50 new private cannabis retail stores will be allowed to open on a rolling basis, beginning October 2019.

Locally, Windsor, Amherstburg, Essex, Kingsville, Leamington and Pelee Island opted IN while LaSalle, Lakeshore and Tecumseh opted out.