The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is responsible for administering the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 (CLA) that, together with the regulation made under the CLA , establish the licensing and regulatory regime for most aspects relating to the retail sale of recreational cannabis in Ontario. The following information is intended to assist you in applying for a Retail Operator Licence, a Retail Store Authorization and/or a Cannabis Retail Store Manager Licence.
For complete details about your legal responsibilities as a licence holder, refer to the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 and its regulations which is available online or by contacting Publications Ontario at 416-326-5300 or toll-free at 1-800-668-9938.
There are personal and entity disclosure requirements when applying for a Cannabis Retail Operator Licence, Retail Store Authorization and Retail Manager Licence. Entity/individual disclosure information must also be provided by applicant corporations and by all corporations directly or indirectly holding 10% or more of shares. For more information, see the Personal and Entity Disclosure Requirement Guide.
Prior to applying for a Retail Store Authorization, please check with your local municipality to ensure that your premises meets municipal requirements for retail stores and that it is not a municipality that has opted out of cannabis retail sales.
Once a complete Retail Store Authorization application is received by AGCO:
After the Public Notice period has ended, the AGCO will provide the Applicant with copies of any written submissions received from local residents and from the municipality as a result of the Public Notice Process in response to the application. Authorization applicants will have five (5) calendar days to provide a written response to the Registrar related to any written submissions received from local residents and/or the municipality and the Registrar will consider the applicant’s response, if any.
For more information on the Public Notice process, please see the Public Notice for a Cannabis Retail Store Authorization section of this guide.
To operate a retail store and sell recreational cannabis in a store on a First Nations reserve, you must apply for a Retail Operator Licence and a Retail Store Authorization.
To be eligible to obtain a Retail Store Authorization, Applicants for a cannabis retail store to be located on a First Nations reserve must demonstrate that the Band Council has approved the location of the prospective cannabis retail store.
A Band Council Resolution must:
To receive a Retail Operator Licence or Retail Store Authorization for a cannabis retail store to be located on a First Nations reserve, a prospective operator must also meet all the requirements of the Cannabis Licence Act.
For more information about the application process for operating a cannabis retail store on a First Nations reserve, please see the Application Process for a Cannabis Retail Store on a First Nations Reserve web page.
For more information, visit the Fees and Payment section of this guide.
The Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation (OCRC), operating as the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS), is the exclusive wholesaler of cannabis in Ontario to authorized private retail stores. Private retailers can only purchase cannabis from the OCS. Retail store operators will be required to enter into a wholesale supply agreement with the OCS in order to begin purchasing cannabis for resale in their authorized stores.
Retail store operators should contact the OCS once they have been issued their Retail Operators Licence from the AGCO. For more information, visit learn.ocswholesale.ca or call 1-877-627-1627.
The following licences/authorizations are required for the operation of a cannabis retail store(s) in Ontario:
To operate a retail store and sell recreational cannabis, you must apply for a Retail Operator Licence. To get this licence, you must meet all of the eligibility criteria set out in the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 and its regulations.
For full details on the eligibility requirements for a Retail Operator Licence, please refer to the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018, its regulations and the Registrar’s Standards.
Additionally, a person is not eligible for Retail Operator Licence:
All applicants and interested parties are subject to background checks as part of the eligibility review process.
For more information about Retail Operator Licence fees, see the Fees and Payment section of this guide.
Once approved, you will receive a Retail Operator Licence, which will contain your licence number, expiry date and any conditions on the licence.
To operate a cannabis retail store, you must have a Retail Store Authorization.
The submission of a Retail Store Authorization (RSA) application does not guarantee its approval. The determination that an RSA application satisfies requirements is made based on all information available at the time of issuance of the RSA.
The Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 and its regulations require that each store meet certain requirements. Requirements relate to such matters as the store layout and location.
The regulations also give residents of the municipality in which the proposed store would be located the opportunity to provide their input.
Before applying for a Retail Store Authorization, you must have submitted an application for a Retail Operator Licence or hold a Retail Operator Licence issued by the AGCO.
A proposed Retail Store:
Must be located in a municipality that permits cannabis retail stores.
The distance between a proposed retail store and a school or private school is measured by a straight line from the closest point of the school property or boundary as described above to the closest point of the proposed retail store.
If either the store and/or the school is located on a floor other than the ground floor or main level in its respective building, the measure of the 150 metre distance may take into account the vertical distance in assessing compliance with this requirement.
The above rules do not apply if the private school is located on a reserve or if the private school only offers classes through the Internet.
All retail store locations will be required to undergo a 15-day public notice process. For more information, see the Public Notice for a Cannabis Retail Store Authorization section of this guide. The Public Notice process is not required for stores on First Nations reserves. The location of the store is approved by the Band Council.
For more information, see the Retail Store Location section of this guide.
Please refer to the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 and its regulations for a list of full requirements.
For full details on the eligibility requirements for a Retail Store Authorization, please refer to the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018, its regulations and the Registrar’s Standards.
Some of the requirements for an applicant to be eligible for a Retail Store Authorization include:
the applicant must not have made a false statement or provided false information in the application.
A Licensed Producer and its affiliates are eligible to apply for a single RSA. The proposed cannabis retail store must be located on or within the site set out in the federally issued production licence.
For more information, see the Retail Store Authorization section of this guide.
For more information about Retail Store Authorization fees, see the Licence and Authorization Fees section of this guide.
Prior to starting a Retail Store Authorization application, we recommend that you:
A Cannabis Retail Manager licence is required by any individual of each retail store location and/or anyone who wish to perform one or more of the following functions in a cannabis retail store:
For more information, visit the Cannabis Retail Manager Licence section of this guide.
For full details on the eligibility requirements for a Cannabis Retail Store Manager Licence, please refer to the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 and its regulations.
Some of the eligibility requirements that an applicant must meet include:
All applicants are subject to background checks as part of the eligibility review process.
For more information about Cannabis Retail Manager licence fees, see the Fees and Payment section of this guide.
To submit your online application, the following information will be required:
Cannabis Retail Operators must keep an up-to-date record of each location for which their RMLs are accountable. The record must be made readily available for review upon the request of AGCO Inspectors.
In addition to requiring that Store Managers are licensed, under Ontario law, all cannabis retail employees, managers and store authorization holders are required to successfully complete an AGCO Board approved cannabis retail employee training program prior to their first day of work in the store.
This includes:
CannSell is the required training for all Ontario cannabis retail employees.
The CannSell training program takes approximately 5 hours to complete and is delivered as an online program in both English and French at a cost of $64.99 + HST. Existing CannSell certificate holders can complete the standalone new content for $10.00 + HST. Individuals must score at least 80% on the final exam in order to successfully complete the program and receive their CannSell certification.
To take the CannSell training program, or for more information about the program, visit CannSell.ca
It is the responsibility of the holder of a Retail Store Authorization to ensure that all employees have met this educational requirement.
Cannabis-related applications will be accepted online only via iAGCO.
iAGCO is the AGCO’s online service delivery portal that offers its customers a convenient and digital way of doing business with the Commission. To access services from the iAGCO portal, you must first create an account and login.
Once an account has been created and you are logged in, the portal can be used to apply for, and manage and view the status of your cannabis-related licences and authorizations, including applications, renewals and modifications.
For more information on iAGCO, please visit the iAGCO Information page.
In addition to submitting an online application via the iAGCO portal, you will need to provide supporting information/documentation.
If you are applying for a Retail Operator Licence, prior to the Licence being issued (i.e. your licence cannot be issued without the required documentation):
Please note, the Registrar will consider every application for a retail operator licence, and may;
If you receive a proposal to refuse your application, you may request a hearing/appeal before the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT). For more information on the LAT, please visit the LAT website.
To apply for a Retail Store Authorization (RSA), the applicant must either hold a valid Retail Operator Licence issued by the AGCO or have submitted an application for a Retail Operator Licence with the AGCO. Applications for both can be submitted at the same time.
A cannabis Retail Store must be the only business that operates out of the proposed location, and the business cannot also operate as a restaurant, coffee shop, pharmacy, convenience store, etc. For more information, see Retail Store Requirements.
A Licensed Producer and its affiliates are eligible to apply for a single RSA. The proposed cannabis retail store must be located on or within the site set out in the federally issued production licence.
For a Retail Store Authorization to be issued, certain business requirements must be in place prior to opening to ensure the store is ready to order, receive and appropriately secure cannabis products. For example, store operators are required to ensure:
For more information on the standards and requirements for a cannabis retail store, please refer to the Registrar’s Standards for the Cannabis Retail Stores, the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 and its regulations.
The following documents must be submitted prior to a Retail Store Authorization being issued:
Additional information / documentation may be requested as required to determine eligibility for a Retail Store Authorization.
Before a Retail Store Authorization can be issued, the store location will be inspected by an AGCO Inspectors to confirm/verify that all eligibility and store-specific criteria are met. During the pre-authorization inspection, AGCO Inspectors will provide you with information about your responsibilities under the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018, its regulations and the Registrar’s Standards, and address any operational questions and/or concerns you may have related to the retail sale of cannabis.
For more information, see the Retail Store Pre-Authorization/Opening Inspection of this guide.
Retail Store Authorizations may be subject to conditions specified by the Registrar pursuant to the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018.
Please note that the Registrar will consider each application for a retail store authorization, and may:
The Registrar’s decision to issue or not issue a Retail Store Authorization is final. Relief may be sought by way of an Application for Judicial Review to the Superior Court of Justice.
The following document(s) will be required before a Retail Store Manager Licence can be issued:
Please note that the Registrar will consider every application for a retail store manager, and may:
If you receive a proposal to refuse your application, you may request a hearing/appeal before the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT). For more information on the LAT, please visit the LAT website.
A Cannabis Retail Store Authorization may be issued to an applicant unless the Registrar finds it is not in the public interest, as set out in the regulation made under the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018.
The infographic below shows the basic steps for the public notice process.
After an application for a Cannabis Retail Store Authorization is submitted through iAGCO, the AGCO’s online portal, the AGCO will determine the dates of the posting period (15 calendar days) and will email the Public Notice placard (in PDF format) to the applicant who is responsible for posting the placard visibly on the proposed store front.
Once received, an applicant must print and physically display the Public Notice at the proposed store. The Public Notice placard, an example of which is shown below, displays the following information:
Applicants are required to post the Public Notice according to the following requirements:
An AGCO Inspector may visit the proposed store to confirm the Public Notice is posted according to the requirements. Failure to post the Public Notice for the required period of time will result in a delay in the processing of the application and may result in reposting the Public Notice for a further 15 days.
All cannabis Retail Store Authorization applications that are undergoing the public notice process will be searchable on the AGCO’s website through the iAGCO portal.
You can sign up to receive emails with updates of new applications undergoing public notice. You can choose the types of applications and specify the locations you would like to subscribe to.
Written submissions about an application can only be made to the Registrar by:
Written submissions can be made online at iAGCO.
Submissions must be received by the AGCO on or before the deadline date set out in the Public Notice. The AGCO will provide copies of any submissions and accompanying documents to the applicant. Anonymous submissions will not be considered.
The Registrar will consider written submissions as to why the proposed store is not in the public interest as set out in the regulation made under the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018. The following are matters of public interest that can be considered by the Registrar:
After the Public Notice period has ended, the AGCO will provide the applicant with copies of any submissions received within the required time period in response to the application for a Retail Store Authorization. Personal details of the submitter, such as name, phone number, email address and mailing address, may be provided to the applicant if included in the content of the submission and/or in accompanying documents. The AGCO aims to provide copies of the submissions to applicants within 10 business days after the submission deadline.
Applicants will have five days, from the time written submissions are sent to the Applicant, to provide written submissions to the Registrar in response to any submissions from local residents and from the municipality. The Registrar will consider the applicant’s response, if any.
The Registrar’s decision to issue or to refuse a Cannabis Retail Store Authorization is final. Relief may be sought by way of an Application for Judicial Review to the Superior Court of Justice.
There are fees required when you apply for your Retail Operator Licence, Retail Manager Licence, or Retail Store Authorization and fees when you renew these licences or authorization.
Fee payments must be received by the AGCO before a licence or authorization application can be processed. If an application is withdrawn, or if the AGCO refuses to issue the licence or authorization for any reason, the fee is non-refundable.
The fees are:
Fee 2-year term |
Renewal Fee 2-year term |
Renewal Fee 4-year term |
|
---|---|---|---|
Retail Operator Licence | $6,000 | $2,000 | $4,000 |
Retail Store Authorization | $4,000 | $3,500 | $7,000 |
Cannabis Retail Manager Licence* | $750 | $500 | $1,000 |
*If you are a sole proprietor, you will not need to get a Cannabis Retail Manager Licence for that store.
Prior to a Retail Store Authorization being issued and a cannabis retail store opening for business, the store location will be inspected by an AGCO Inspector to confirm that eligibility and store-specific requirements are met. The first inspection is called a Retail Store Pre-Authorization Inspection, which is conducted prior to a Retail Store Authorization being issued. The Inspector will be contacting the Owner/Retail Cannabis Sales Manager to review, in advance, the requirements to ensure the location is ready for this inspection. The following sections provide more information about the inspection process.
Before a Retail Store Authorization will be issued, the store location will be inspected by an AGCO Inspector to confirm that eligibility and store-specific requirements are met. During the Pre-Authorization Inspection, AGCO Inspectors will provide you with information about your obligations and responsibilities under the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018, its regulations and the Registrar’s Standards for Cannabis Retail Stores and answer any operational questions and/or concerns you may have related to the retail sale of cannabis. Inspectors will be checking that the store is ready to order, receive and appropriately secure cannabis products as required by the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018, its regulations and the Registrar’s Standards for Cannabis Retail Stores.
An AGCO Inspector will be visiting the retail store to confirm that store specific requirements are met. Store-specific requirements include:
Preventing Entry of Minors (Ontario Regulation 468/18 s. 20)
A description of the measures the licensed Retail Operator will undertake to ensure that patrons who look under 25 years of age are not permitted to enter the cannabis retail store unless they provide a valid piece of identification proving that they are at least 19 years of age.
Once the complete Retail Store Authorization application has been submitted, notify the AGCO that the retail store has met all of the store specific requirements and is ready for an inspection. The AGCO Inspector will contact you to set up an appointment. As the applicant, you must be present at the retail store during the inspection.
Once all eligibility and store specific requirements are met, a Retail Store Authorization will be issued which may include certain terms and conditions, which the licensed Retail Operator must comply with before the store is open to the public.
AGCO Inspectors may visit the retail store location at any time to confirm compliance with the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 and regulations and Registrar’s Standards. You must allow the inspection, and you must not interfere with the AGCO Inspector, refuse to answer questions related to the inspection, or provide false information.
When conducting an inspection, an AGCO Inspector may:
If an Inspector asks you for a record, you must provide it. You must also must help the Inspector understand the record or provide it in a readable form.
AGCO Inspectors will also confirm the following:
appeal to or target persons under 19 years of age
promote cannabis or cannabis accessories in a way that is false, misleading, or deceptive
suggest or imply, directly, indirectly, or by use of endorsements of testimonials, that consumption of cannabis is associated with success, enjoyment of an activity, fulfillment of a goal, or the resolution of a problem
be associated with medicine, health, or pharmaceuticals
depict or suggest the illegal sale of cannabis
associate consumption of cannabis with driving a motorized vehicle, or with any activity that requires care and skill or has elements of danger
As described in Ontario Regulation 468/18, operators of cannabis retail stores authorized by the AGCO must print and display the Provincial Retail Seal in a place that is visible from the exterior of the public entrance to the cannabis retail store. The retail seal must be at least 17 centimetres in width at its widest point by 20 centimetres in length. Either the French version, the English version or both versions of the cannabis retail seal may be displayed.
Once the AGCO has approved and issued a Retail Store Authorization, it will give the applicant access to downloadable versions of the seal in various file formats. The image cannot be altered in any way.
Hearings for cannabis Retail Manager Licence and Retail Operator Licence matters under the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 are heard by the Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT), which is an independent, quasi-judicial agency of the Government of Ontario that adjudicates applications and resolves disputes concerning compensation claims and licensing activities regulated by the provincial government. LAT is one of five tribunals in the Safety, Licensing Appeals and Standards Tribunal Ontario (SLASTO) cluster; it is not part of the AGCO.
If you have received a Notice of Proposal (NOP) issued by the Registrar, you have the right to a hearing/appeal before LAT. For more information about requesting a hearing/appeal as well as any fees LAT may require, please visit the LAT website.
If the Registrar proposes to refuse, revoke or suspend a Retail Operator Licence, Retail Manager Licence, or to revoke or suspend a Retail Store Authorization, the Registrar will serve a Notice of Proposal (NOP) on the applicant/licensee outlining the reasons for the proposed action.
Applicants/licensees who wish to dispute a NOP issued by the Registrar may appeal it. If you receive an NOP and wish to request a hearing, you have fifteen (15) days to appeal to LAT. If an appeal is not received within fifteen (15) days, the Registrar may carry out the proposed action and a final Order will be issued.
The Registrar’s decision to issue or refuse a Cannabis Retail Store Authorization is final. Relief may be sought by way of an Application for Judicial Review to the Superior Court of Justice.
In a situation where there are serious violations alleged such that it is in the public interest not to allow a licensee to continue to sell cannabis, the Registrar may immediately suspend a Retail Operator Licence, Retail Store Authorization or Retail Store Manager Licence.
In certain instances, including where the holder of a Retail Operator Licence, a Retail Store Authorization or a Retail Manager Licence is convicted of selling cannabis to a minor, the Registrar is required by the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 to immediately revoke the licence or authorization.
Decisions of hearings held before LAT, can be found on the LAT website.