Article content continued
But another single-store operator said he’s confident fewer restrictions on outlet ownership is balanced by other regulations.
“Having a cap was nice but, two years into legalization, it won’t have that much of a difference,” said Shawn Bali, owner of Omkara Cannabis at 500 Royal Oak Dr. N.W.
“There’s still a minimum distance of 300 metres between stores.”
He said the fiscal and regulatory hurdles to opening new outlets will also regulate the amount of competition.
The UCP government’s move is a necessary evolution in Alberta’s cannabis market, said Amber Craig, chief marketing officer for Four20 Premium Market.
“It’s been a private market from the beginning and it creates more opportunity,” said Craig, whose company operates 14 stores in Alberta.
She said the decision could someday have an effect on her company’s expansion plans, though a current goal of 20 Alberta stores wouldn’t come close to the outgoing 15 per cent limit.
A growing…
