Kingston has been announced as one of the locations for the first four cannabis retail shops that will open in Ontario. The other three locations are Guelph, Toronto and Thunder Bay.
The announcement was made by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and the Ontario Cannabis Store on April 11.
In Kingston, the retail store will be located at the RioCan Centre at 770 Gardiners Rd. It houses businesses such as The Brick, Home Outfitters and Five Guys Burgers. There is no word yet on where exactly the store will go, but there are a couple of vacant spots that the store could operate out of.
According to the OCS, the locations picked out are:
“Consistent with provincial guidelines, store locations adhere to municipal zoning bylaws, minimize proximity to primary and secondary schools and consider where illegal storefronts are currently operating. Input received from municipal officials through engagement with the LCBO on local areas of interest was also used to inform the identification of OCS store locations.”
OCS says the stores will operate with the same care and expertise of the LCBO. Consistent with federal requirements, IDs will be checked to prevent underage access to cannabis and no one under the age of 19 will be permitted in the store.
The OCS says there will be screens throughout the stores to give consumers product and health information.
This year 40 retail cannabis stores are expected to open for business with another 40 to open by July of next year.