An aspiring toronto REC store owner applied for a Retail Store Approval (RSA) in March, but the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario says she’ll get it in September. (She’ll have to pay rent on her storefront until then).
The Star
- Wilson’s struggle to open her store–she’s 253 days into the process–reveals the expensive waits REC retailers face before they can begin doing business.
Toronto Sun - The lag for applicants between applying for RSAs and being allowed to open is roughly six months. Lawyer Matt Maurer explained, compliant stores are forced to sit empty for months.
Twitter–@MattPMaurer - Other REC stores say the AGCO told them not to expect licencing until January 2021, even as LPs are stockpiling products they hope new stores could sell.
Twitter–@MattPMaurer
Though the AGCO hasn’t formally set a cap, it began planning in January to license five stores per week. Consultant CannDelta reported the Ontario Government has since ordered the number capped at five per week, though critics say the AGCO could and should license many more.
BNN Bloomberg, Twitter–@CannDelta, @ProfMJArmstrong
In BC, publicly traded REC retailer Choom (with 18 stores in three provinces) appealed Vancouver’s rejection of its plan to open a REC store in the Coal Harbour neighbourhood, but the appeal contained allegedly forged letters from local businesses supporting the store, signed by bogus employees.
Vancouver Sun
