The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) announced on Friday that they would be issuing 10 retail cannabis licenses to retailers in Alberta.

The AGLC stated in an official release that the first 10 applications submitted, which satisfied their licensing conditions would be the retailers to receive a much sought after license.

The Garden Cannabis Co. in Strathmore was one of the 10 retailers to receive a license Co-owner Brook Pries said, "It was a very lengthy application process we had to have a full background check and implement a few security features in the store." 

"Now we are just working with the AGLC to set up the business side of things. I'm limited to what I can carry as far as accessories, they have quite strict rules on what kind of accessories can be sold in a cannabis retail store."

These 10 licenses were the first issued in 2019 and the first since the AGLC froze licensing in November of 2018.

The was a delay in the bylaw being approved and retail outlets in Strathmore being able to apply for a license.    

"The Town of Strathmore required a discretionary use development permit, that requires a four to six week period where they contact businesses and landowners. There were some concerns by some of our neighbours, so we had to mitigate those concerns and say what we would do to make them feel better." Pries said.

"Once we received that approval from the town and satisfied all of our requirements, all of sudden they put a hold on licensees due to supply issue," said Pries.

After discussing the next steps with the AGLC Pries was told there has been a modest supply increase potentially they still may have out of stock situations.

According to the AGLC, the increased licenses issued is due to an improved cannabis supply.  These new licenses have brought the provincial total for cannabis retailers up to 75.