The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has continued working with the Government of Ontario to increase the number of cannabis Retail Store Authorizations (RSAs) that are issued each month.
Effective today, February 16, 2021, the pace of store authorizations has increased from 20 to 30 RSAs each week.
AGCO Eligibility Officers have been directly contacting all affected retail store applicants – starting with the ones that have the most imminent RSA issuance dates – to advise them of the new anticipated issuance date of their store authorizations.
To date, the AGCO has received over 1630 RSA applications. It has issued 489 RSAs and 430 authorized cannabis retail stores are currently open in the province. There are currently over 940 active RSA applications still to be processed.
The AGCO continues to receive dozens of new applications each week. To help both new and current applicants better understand the RSA application process, the AGCO has developed the following resources:
- A Cannabis Retailer Licensing Journey Map that outlines the step-by-step process of opening a cannabis retail store, from the pre-application assessment to the opening of a store, going through the public notice posting period. Download the infographic version here.
- An enhanced map of cannabis stores in Ontario, offering updated and detailed information on proposed and authorized cannabis retail store locations across the province, including those that are undergoing public notice.
- The Potential RSA issuance date for new RSA applicants. This date is calculated based on the total number of RSA applications received and the issuance pace directed by the government of Ontario, currently at 30 RSAs per week. The indicated date is an estimate only and may vary depending on how early the application meets all the requirements to be issued an RSA.
For information about the application process and other regulatory and legal aspects of operating a cannabis retail store, consult the Cannabis Retail Regulation Guide.