Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) is easing the moratorium on cannabis retail stores and issuing 26 more licences. The province had previously temporarily suspended applications because of the national cannabis supply shortage.
In a letter sent to prospective retailers on April 18, the AGLC explained: “While AGLC’s inventory levels have seen improvement, it is not stable enough to fully open the licensing process or accept new retail cannabis applications.”
It is unclear when additional licences will be issued next. In the letter, the AGLC stated: “As always, we are analyzing our supply situation regularly and will issue more licences as our inventory grows and the marketplace can sustain additional retailers. We know the current situation is challenging and we assure you we are diligently working to limit the impact it is having on this emerging industry in Alberta.”
The 26 new licences bring the total number of cannabis stores in the province to 101. In 2018, Alberta said it wanted to licence up to 250 stores by late 2019.
Photo courtesy of Kyler Nixon.