Update: Cannabis store application numbers

The City of Calgary started accepting applications for cannabis retail stores both in person and online this morning.  As of 6 a.m., there were 14 applicants in line when the Municipal Building opened and each received a number. At 7:45 a.m. these applicants lined up according to their number and submitted their applications to City planning staff starting at 8 a.m.

How many applications have been received? 

As of noon, The City has received 226 cannabis store development permit applications:

  • The majority of these were received within the first 17 minutes of the intake process.
  • 199 of the 226 applications were completed online.

The online application was the primary application method, which was used for the first time for business applications. City staff were available online through the live chat function to assist online applicants.

It is possible that The City received duplicate development permits (some may have been submitted both online and in person). City staff will be reviewing the applications in the coming days and working with the applicants to ensure there is only one application per location.

Online cannabis store map now available

An online map showing cannabis store locations has been created to help applicants see the overlap of the setback distances for cannabis stores, as well as to provide applicants with information on areas in which a cannabis store could be situated. Now that applications have been received, this map has been updated with the development permits that were received today and will continue to be updated daily with new application locations.

Map: http://www.calgary.ca/PDA/pd/Scripts/land-use-bylaw/cannabis-store-info-map.html

What's next

Once a file manager has been assigned, applicants can expect to hear from their file manager to begin to work through their application review.

While The City's approach cannabis store applications enables it to accept and process applications, The City will only make decisions on the applications once the exact date of legalization is known and the federal and provincial law is in force. ​This means that until Federal legislation is passed, businesses who applied will not receive a decision on their applications.

All cannabis store applications are discretionary, which means that these applications are open to appeal by both the community and the applicant once decisions have been made by The City.

For more information, please visit Calgary.ca/cannabisbusiness.

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