Municipalities in Ontario will find out in the coming weeks if a provincially run cannabis store could be located in their community.
In a letter sent to the province's municipalities issued Friday, Finance Minister Charles Sousa says Ontario's store roll out aims to achieve the right geographic distribution across the province and to reduce the number of illegal marijuana dispensaries that have opened since the federal government announced it would legalize marijuana next summer.
The Ontario government says none of the retail stores will be located near schools.
The province plans to set up approximately 150 standalone shops -- run by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario -- by 2020.
The first wave of 40 stores will open in 2018 with that number rising to 80 stores by July 2019.
Once the province lands on a location for each store, municipalities and the public will have a chance to provide input.
Windsor’s city clerk, Valerie Critchley, expects a location to be selected within the next month or two.
"I think the most important part is to be a productive partner with the province and ensure the public is safe and this is a safe and controlled roll out of the sale of cannabis and to make sure the community is protected in that way" says Critchley.
Ontario was the first province to announce a detailed plan to sell and distribute recreational marijuana and will set the legal age to purchase it at 19.
( with files from CTV Windsor )
