Retail cannabis

IMPORTANT: All retail cannabis licence applicants must undergo extensive mandatory background checks.

Background checks are performed on an applicant, director, shareholders and key employees to prevent criminal interests from operating, associating or having a financial interest in cannabis retail sales in Alberta.

Applicants not eligible for a retail cannabis license include:

• applicant who is or has been involved with organized crime
• applicant who is or has been involved with the illegal drug trade
• applicant who is or was a participant in the unlawful cannabis trade, including illegal retail or medical sales and/or the sale of cannabis seeds and/or CBD products
• applicant with a criminal conviction for a serious violence offence(s), possession for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, manufacturing or production of a controlled drug or substance under the Controlled Drug and Substance Act (CDSA)

NOTE: Prior to October 17th, 2018, CBD was listed as a controlled substance under Schedule 2 of the CDSA. The sale of CBD products, unless sold by a Health Canada Licensed Producer under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations, was prohibited.

As of October 17, 2018, CBD and products containing CBD (including cannabis or hemp oil containing CBD) are subject to all of the rules and requirements that apply to cannabis under the Cannabis Act and its regulations. In Alberta, CBD and products containing CBD such as cannabis oil, can only be sold to adults (individuals 18+) by an AGLC licensed cannabis retailer or federally-licensed seller of cannabis for medical purposes.