Ontario Cannabis Retail License and Cannabis Licensing
                     ONTARIO 
CANNABIS 
RETAIL STORE  
LICENSING
YOUR ROADMAP
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www.CannabisLicenseExperts.com
Table of Contents TRUST THE 
Cannabis Retailer Page 3 EXPERTS 
Licensing Journey Map AND GET LICENSED 
Secure your Licences Page 4 
and Authorizations FASTER!
Public Notice Process Page 6 Your path to opening up a Cannabis 
Inspections Page 7 Retail Store starts here. We’re with 
you, every step of the way
Get Licensed Faster Page 8
Additional Services Page 9
Success Stories Page 10
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Cannabis Retailer Licensing Journey Map
1 Pre-Application 7 Validate/Update Business Plan & RSA Issued  Assessment Review Regulatory Requirements 13 
2 Apply for ROL Public Notice Enter into Commercial on iAGCO 8 Posting Period 14 Agreement with OCS   
3 Find a Suitable 9 Public Notice – Order Product/ Retail Location  Written Submissions 15 Receive Product from OCS 
4 Apply for RSA 10 Retailer Education 16 Pre-Opening Inspection on iAGCO and Authorization to Open 
5 ROL 11 Pre-Authorization Open Store Issued Inspection 17
6 Contact OCS 12 Entering the Queue Retail Reporting Client Services for RSA Issuance 18 and Ongoing Education 
OCS: Ontario Cannabis Store
iAGCO: Online portal for the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
SOURCE: https://www.agco.ca/cannabis/industry-resources/cannabis-retailer-licensing-journey-map
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Secure your Licences and Authorizations
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has responsibility for regulating cannabis retail stores 
in Ontario under the Cannabis Licence Act, 2018 and Regulation 468/18. To open and operate a cannabis retail 
store and sell recreational cannabis, there are two licences and an authorization that you are required to secure 
from the AGCO:
1. Cannabis Retail 2. Cannabis Retail Store 
Operator Licence (ROL) Authorization (RSA)
The first licence you need to apply for The next step after submitting an ROL 
is the Retail Operator Licence (ROL). application is to apply for a Retail Store 
You can apply for this licence as an Authorization (RSA) for each retail 
individual/sole proprietor, a partnership location you intend to open. To apply 
or a corporation. The ROL will confirm for an RSA, you must either hold a 
that you meet the eligibility criteria set valid ROL issued by the AGCO or have 
out in the Cannabis Licence Act and its submitted an application for an ROL 
regulations. To submit an application with the AGCO. Applications for both an 
for a Retail Operator Licence, you must RSA and ROL can be submitted at the 
make a non-refundable $6,000 fee same time, but the ROL will be issued 
payment to the AGCO. before the RSA is granted.
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Secure your Licences and Authorizations
To submit an application for a Retail Store Authorization, you 
must make a non-refundable $4,000 fee payment to the AGCO.
To be eligible for a Retail Store Authorization, the following 
criteria should be met since there are some places where you 
cannot open a cannabis retail store:
•  Ensure the proposed location for your retail store is more 
than 150 metres away from the property line of a school or 
private school;
•  Contact the municipality where the store will be located 
and confirm that the proposed retail store meets local 
municipal requirements for retail store siting;
•  Review the Registrar’s Standards for Cannabis Retail 
Stores to ensure you understand the requirements for 
your store;
•  Ensure that the operating name of the proposed retail 
store complies with all applicable Federal/Provincial 
legislation related to advertising and promotion.
If you are a Licensed Producer, or one of its affiliates, 
you are eligible to apply for a single RSA. In this case, 
the proposed cannabis retail store must be located on or 
within the site set out in the federally issued production 
licence.
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Public Notice Process
After your ROL and RSA(s) have been submitted, the next step is the Public Notice Process and store inspections by 
the AGCO.
For fifteen (15) calendar days, you are required to post the Public Notice placard visibly on the proposed store front. 
Although the AGCO provides the Public Notice placard via email, you are responsible for:
1. Printing both English and French notices in colour on 8 ½” x 11’ paper; and,
2.  Physically displaying the Public Notice at the proposed retail store in a manner that  
makes it visible to the general public during the posting period.
3. Cannabis Retail  
Manager Licence 
Every cannabis retail store in Ontario must have at least one Licensed Retail Manager, 
who is responsible for performing tasks such as:
• supervising, managing, or hiring employees of the store;
• managing the sale of cannabis;
• managing compliance issues relating to the sale of cannabis;
• buying cannabis for the store;
• entering into contracts for the store.
Recent changes to the Registrar’s Standards now allow 1 Manager to manage up to five (5) cannabis retail store 
locations.
To submit an application for a Cannabis Retail Manager Licence, you must make a non-refundable fee payment of 
$750 to the AGCO.
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Inspections
Prior to a Retail Store Authorization being issued and your cannabis retail 
store opening for business, the store location will be inspected by an 
AGCO Compliance Official on two separate occasions to confirm that all 
eligibility and store-specific requirements are met. 
The first inspection is called a Retail Store Pre-Authorization 
Inspection, which is conducted prior to a Retail Store Authorization 
being issued. 
The second inspection is a Pre-Store Opening Inspection, which will be 
done prior to the opening of the store. 
The public notice period does not need to be completed before your 
first inspection can be scheduled (i.e. an inspection can be scheduled 
as soon as the placard has been posted, based on your readiness for 
your store to be inspected).
Successful completion of the Retail Store Pre-Authorization 
Inspection will result in issuance of an RSA, which may include 
certain terms and conditions the licensed Retail Operator must 
comply with before the store is open to the public. After that, 
successful completion of the Pre-Store Opening Inspection will 
allow your store to open for business!
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Trust The Experts  
And Get Licensed Faster!
With over 9 of years experience, the team at Cannabis License Experts has 
submitted over 250 cannabis and psychedelics licence applications, with 
ZERO REFUSALS from Health Canada or any provincial governments. There 
are several reasons to trust Cannabis License Experts with your application, 
including:
1. O nce your licensing project begins, one of our Senior Regulatory 
Specialists will be assigned to guide you through the entire process, 
effectively acting as your Project Manager for the duration of the 
application process, all the way through until you are licensed.
2. O ur experienced team will help you navigate through the process 
and ensure your application is completed in a thorough and accurate 
manner, so you avoid any unnecessary delays.
3. L icensing packages cover all applicable requirements including: 
Floor plan design, detailed security plan, completion of all application 
documents, preparation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), 
site evidence packages, timely response to all RMIs, and more.
4. W e offer competitive rates and industry-leading value and results.
5. O ur services are not limited to licensing – we offer additional 
solutions through our own team, as well as a network of partners, 
covering all the aspects to successfully set up your business.
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Additional Services
Cannabis License Experts prides itself in offering solutions beyond the 
licensing journey, to help ensure you have the necessary tools to establish 
your operation. This includes:
• Business plan services
• Gap assessments
• Commercial real estate broker services
• Facility design (new and retrofit of existing structures)
• Production equipment providers
• Security equipment tendering
• Insurance broker services
• Banking services
• POS recommendations/setup
• Digital platform services
• Budtender training (retail)
• Interior design
• Post-licensing audits
• Retainer packages for ongoing consultation 
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Success Stories
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