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Even so, sales through private retailers and regulator Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis’ online portal should reach $540 million for 2020, showing the legal sector is taking an increasing bite out of the illicit market that still maintains a strong presence, said Shah.
“This is a positive sign for regulators and market participants who are looking for the legal cannabis system to take a bigger chunk out of the illicit trade,” states Shah’s latest market report, which uses Statistics Canada data.
Ontario, with a population more than three times the size of Alberta’s but with fewer than 200 stores, should have 2020 sales of $645 million, said the Cannabis Benchmarks report.
Those rising Alberta earnings are driven mainly by a proliferation of stores — 524 have been approved by the AGLC.
It’s seen monthly sales figures in the sector go from just under $20 million in June 2019 to nearly $47 million a year later — and should hit $51.3 million in…