The operators for the province’s 51 cannabis retail store permits have now been selected.
More than two-thirds of these successful applicants are from Saskatchewan or have operations in the province, according to a release from SLGA. (Saskatchewan Liqour and Gaming Authority)
In Canora, the successful applicant for the one available permit was Clarity Cannabis Ltd., an Alberta and B.C. business operator, said the release.
“This represents the next step in the process of having a privately-operated cannabis retail system carefully regulated by SLGA,” Minister Responsible for SLGA Gene Makowsky said. “There was a lot of interest in the public Request for Proposal process, resulting in many new businesses that will invest in our province.”
The successful proponents were selected through a two phase Request for Proposal (RFP) process that began in March. The first phase involved a screening for qualifications focused on financial and sales/inventory tracking systems. All those that qualified entered the second phase of the process which was a lottery draw to select the successful operators. KPMG, a professional auditing firm, was engaged to provide oversight and monitor the entire RFP process, according to the release.
Proponents that were selected as operators for the province’s 51 cannabis retail permits must now proceed through the licensing process. No retailers can begin operating until federal legalization occurs, which is expected sometime this fall, according to David Morse of SLGA. The permitting process involves completing the formal application paperwork, submitting and passing a good character check and meeting building security requirements.
“Names were drawn for each available permit in a community,” said Morse. “SLGA established a ‘runner up’ list of two proponents per available permit, to be used only if the initial proponent selected is not eligible for a cannabis permit or if the successful proponent withdraws from the process. The runners up will not be notified unless and until they become the successful proponent for a cannabis retail permit.”
The successful proponents have 45 days to begin the permitting process. As a condition of their permit, retail cannabis permittees must be operating within 12 months of legalization. Permits will not take effect until legalization occurs.
Cannabis retail stores must be standalone operations, selling only cannabis, cannabis accessories and ancillary items as defined by SLGA. Alcohol sales will not be permitted in cannabis stores. Cannabis retail locations are subject to local municipal zoning bylaws.
