In Manitoba, the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority (LGCA) regulates, licenses, inspects and audits the industry while Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries (MBLL) enters into agreements with private sector Retailers on behalf of the Province. MBLL also administers central ordering processing of cannabis products to the LGCA-licensed private sector Retailers.
The private sector operates all retail locations in Manitoba and all cannabis supply is sourced through MBLL.
Manitoba placed limits on the number of cannabis Retailers out of concern there may be not enough supply available from Health Canada-licensed cultivators and processors to serve an open marketplace at the date of legalization.
The desired end state for Manitoba is a cannabis retail sector that includes a competitive mix of Retailers providing customers with a choice among brand affiliations, service quality, and price. Additional opportunities to participate in the industry will present themselves once the non-medical cannabis market matures.
All cannabis sold legally in Canada must originate from a cultivator or processor that is licensed by Health Canada. Health Canada is the federal government department responsible for cannabis production and oversight, and regulates and inspects all cultivation and processing facilities. All cannabis that Manitoba’s private Retailers sell to the public must be purchased wholesale through MBLL, which in turn will only buy from cultivators and processors that Health Canada has authorized.
The cannabis industry may apply to Manitoba’s Small Business Venture Capital Tax Credit (https://www.gov.mb.ca/jec/busdev/financial/sbvctc/) for consideration.
The desired end state for Manitoba is a cannabis retail sector that includes a competitive mix of retailers providing customers with a choice among brand affiliations, service quality, and price.
Additional opportunities to participate in the industry will present themselves once the non-medical cannabis market scales up, expands, and matures. Future activity also depends on regulations the Federal government makes under The Cannabis Act. Therefore, no specific timeline is in place and opportunities could emerge quickly.
Please continue checking mbllpartners.ca for updates or an announcement for future retail opportunities.
Yes. If you would like a copy of the Cannabis Store Retailer Agreement template, please send us a message.