Dispensaries

General Trends:

  • As of early 2024, there were over 3,600 legal recreational cannabis storefronts in Canada.
  • Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia lead in the number of retail stores.
  • The number of stores per capita varies significantly across provinces and territories.

Here’s a breakdown by Province/Territory (with notable cities where data is available):

1. Ontario * Total Stores (Jan 2024): 1,742 * Major Cities with High Store Counts (Jan 2024): * Toronto: 212 * Hamilton: 67 * Ottawa: 65 * North York: 62 * Scarborough: 58 * London: 54 * Brampton: 47 * Windsor: 41 * Etobicoke: 40 * Kitchener: 28 * Oshawa: 26 * Barrie: 25 * Niagara Falls: 24 * St. Catharines: 24 * Burlington: 24 * Guelph: 23 * Brantford: 22 * Best Source for Up-to-Date List: The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) website is the official source for licensed cannabis retailers.

2. Alberta * Total Stores (Jan 2024): 749 * Major Cities with High Store Counts (Jan 2024): * Calgary: 192 * Edmonton: 176 * Lethbridge: 22 * Best Source for Up-to-Date List: The Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC) website has a searchable database of licensed cannabis retailers.

3. British Columbia * Total Stores (Jan 2024): 494 * Major Cities with High Store Counts (Jan 2024): * Vancouver: 78 * Surrey: 38 (as of a recent check) * Victoria: 28 * Best Source for Up-to-Date List: The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) is responsible for wholesale distribution and maintains a list of licensed private and public retailers. You can also find many BC dispensaries listed on platforms like Weedmaps, though for official licensing, refer to LDB.

4. Manitoba * Total Stores (Jan 2024): 198 * Major Cities with High Store Counts (Jan 2024): * Winnipeg: 115 (as of Jan 2024) * Brandon: Multiple stores * Dauphin: Multiple stores * Selkirk: Multiple stores * Best Source for Up-to-Date List: The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA) website lists current licensed cannabis retailers.

5. Saskatchewan * Total Stores (Jan 2024): 184 * Major Cities with High Store Counts (Jan 2024): * Saskatoon: 41 * Regina: 32 * Best Source for Up-to-Date List: The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) website is the regulatory body. Large retailers like Farmer Jane also list their locations.

6. Quebec * Total Stores (Jan 2024): The number is likely controlled by the provincial monopoly. * Key Retailer: Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) is the only legal retailer. You can find their store locator on the SQDC website. They have locations in many cities, including: * Montreal * Quebec City * Trois-Rivières * Drummondville * Lévis * Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu * Rimouski * Mirabel * Mascouche (and many others)

7. Newfoundland and Labrador * Total Stores (Jan 2024): 98 * Cities with Stores (examples): * St. John’s * Corner Brook * Clarenville * Bonavista * Burin * Port Aux Basques * Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s * Stephenville * Best Source for Up-to-Date List: The Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC) provides information on licensed cannabis retailers. Some private retailers like Oceanic Releaf list their locations.

8. Nova Scotia * Total Stores (Jan 2024): 49 * Key Retailer: Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) is the only legal retailer. You can find their store locator on the MyNSLC website. * Cities with Stores: Halifax, Dartmouth, Sydney, and other communities across the province.

9. New Brunswick * Total Stores (Jan 2024): 38 * Key Retailer: Cannabis NB is the only legal retailer. Their website has a store locator listing all locations in cities such as: * Fredericton * Moncton * Saint John * Dieppe * Bathurst * Campbellton * Edmundston * Miramichi * Oromocto * Riverview * Rothesay * Sackville * Grand-Falls * Perth-Andover * Richibucto

10. Prince Edward Island * Total Stores (Jan 2024): 5 * Key Retailer: PEI Cannabis is the only legal retailer, with locations primarily in major population centers. * Known Locations (examples): * Lennox Island First Nation (Malpek Cannabis) * Charlottetown * Summerside * Montague * O’Leary * Best Source for Up-to-Date List: The PEI Cannabis website.

11. Yukon * Total Stores (Jan 2024): 6 * Cities with Stores (examples): * Whitehorse * Dawson City * Watson Lake * Carmacks * Best Source for Up-to-Date List: The Yukon government’s Department of Community Services (or equivalent) will have information on licensed cannabis businesses.

12. Northwest Territories * Total Stores (Jan 2024): 6 * Cities with Stores (examples): * Yellowknife (Releaf NT, Trailblazer Cannabis Shop) * Hay River (It’s 4:20 Somewhere) * Norman Wells (Sahtu Spot) * Best Source for Up-to-Date List: The Northwest Territories Liquor and Cannabis Commission (NTLCC) website lists approved vendors.

13. Nunavut * Total Stores (Jan 2024): 1 * City with Store: * Iqaluit (Higher Experience) * Best Source for Up-to-Date List: Nunavut’s Department of Finance (or equivalent) would oversee licensing.