The government of Ontario is taking steps to allow more retail cannabis stores to open at the beginning of next year.
The province announced on Thursday that starting in January 2020, it is removing the cap on the number of private brick and mortar cannabis stores allowed in Ontario and eliminating pre-qualification requirements for potential retailers.
"We have said all along that opening more legal stores is the most effective way to combat the illicit market, protect our kids and keep our communities safe," said Attorney General Doug Downey in a statement. "That is our number one priority."
Other changes the government plans to make include making it easier for licensed cannabis producers to open stores at their facilities and enabling retailers to sell additional cannabis-related items such as cannabis-related magazines and cookbooks.
The government said the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario will begin accepting license applications from prospective retailers on January 6, 2020. Store authorization applications can then be applied for on March 2, 2020, with stores being granted permission to open by April. Initially, the province intends to allow a total of 20 stores to open each month.
The province also intends to phase in restrictions on the number of pot shops a single licence holder can have, in an effort to ensure fair access for retailers. Until August 31, 2020, only 10 cannabis stores can be owned by a single operator. That number will increase to 30 in September of 2020 and then 75 in September 2021.
"The province continues to have strict rules for private cannabis stores to help keep kids safe and ensure retailers behave with integrity," the Ministry of the Attorney General said in a statement. "These include regulations that deny licences to anyone with certain cannabis-related offences or any association with organized crime. Regulations also require licence holders, cannabis retail managers and employees to complete approved training."
Following legalization of recreational marijuana, the Ford government initially adopted a lottery system to select which proposed cannabis stores would be allowed to open in the province.