Ontario cuts into cannabis store shortage by doubling authorizations

Ontario’s cannabis store regulator has started issuing 10 Retail Store Authorizations (RSA) per week, double the previous pace of five new stores weekly.

“The AGCO is pleased to confirm that as of Sept. 28, it will move from issuing five to 10 RSAs each week,” the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario said in a notice on its website.

The move will help alleviate the province’s shortage of legal marijuana outlets, but it will be years before Ontario catches up to other provinces.

As of Monday, 173 cannabis retailers were open in Ontario – or about 1.19 stores per 100,000 people, which is the second-lowest in the country.

By comparison, Alberta leads with more than 500 store licensees serving a population roughly one-third that of Ontario’s – about 11.5 licenses issued per 100,000 people.

Ontario is promising to further double its authorizations this fall to 40 new stores per month.

At the increased rate, it would take Ontario over three years to catch up to Alberta’s present per-100,000 cannabis stores figure.