The Alberta government has laid out its rules regarding the private sales of cannabis in the province. The updated regulation includes the ability of municipalities to alter certain aspects to best suit their communities’ needs.
The regulation now outlines a number of operational requirements for private retailers, including:
- Mandatory background checks for retail licence applicants.
- Mandatory training and background checks for all retail employees.
- One person, group, or organization cannot hold more than 15 per cent of retail licences in Alberta.
- A 100-metre buffer for stores from schools and provincial health-care facilities. However, municipalities have the ability to adjust these buffer zones or add additional ones to best suit their communities’ needs.
- Store hours set between 10 a.m. and 2 a.m. (the same as liquor stores) with municipalities able to adjust these hours.
- Mandatory security measures in stores.
The Alberta Urban Municipalities has formally requested the province for 70 per cent of the cannabis excise taxes that it receives from the federal government to help Alberta municipalities to safely and effectively enforce the legalization of marijuana in their communities.
The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) will be the one in charge of the overall operations and oversight of licensing for private cannabis retailers in Alberta. They will also be in charge of operating online cannabis sales for the province.
