A Cannabis Retail Store Authorization may be issued to an applicant unless the Registrar finds it is not in the public interest, as set out in the regulation made under the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018.
The infographic below shows the basic steps for the public notice process.
After an application for a Cannabis Retail Store Authorization is submitted through iAGCO, the AGCO’s online portal, the AGCO will determine the dates of the posting period (15 calendar days) and will email the Public Notice placard (in PDF format) to the applicant who is responsible for posting the placard visibly on the proposed store front.
Once received, an applicant must print and physically display the Public Notice at the proposed store. The Public Notice placard, an example of which is shown below, displays the following information:
Applicants are required to post the Public Notice according to the following requirements:
An AGCO Inspector may visit the proposed store to confirm the Public Notice is posted according to the requirements. Failure to post the Public Notice for the required period of time will result in a delay in the processing of the application and may result in reposting the Public Notice for a further 15 days.
All cannabis Retail Store Authorization applications that are undergoing the public notice process will be searchable on the AGCO’s website through the iAGCO portal.
You can sign up to receive emails with updates of new applications undergoing public notice. You can choose the types of applications and specify the locations you would like to subscribe to.
Written submissions about an application can only be made to the Registrar by:
Written submissions can be made online at iAGCO.
Submissions must be received by the AGCO on or before the deadline date set out in the Public Notice. The AGCO will provide copies of any submissions and accompanying documents to the applicant. Anonymous submissions will not be considered.
The Registrar will consider written submissions as to why the proposed store is not in the public interest as set out in the regulation made under the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018. The following are matters of public interest that can be considered by the Registrar:
After the Public Notice period has ended, the AGCO will provide the applicant with copies of any submissions received within the required time period in response to the application for a Retail Store Authorization. Personal details of the submitter, such as name, phone number, email address and mailing address, may be provided to the applicant if included in the content of the submission and/or in accompanying documents. The AGCO aims to provide copies of the submissions to applicants within 10 business days after the submission deadline.
Applicants will have five days, from the time written submissions are sent to the Applicant, to provide written submissions to the Registrar in response to any submissions from local residents and from the municipality. The Registrar will consider the applicant’s response, if any.
The Registrar’s decision to issue or to refuse a Cannabis Retail Store Authorization is final. Relief may be sought by way of an Application for Judicial Review to the Superior Court of Justice.