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by Stockwatch Business Reporter

The S&P/TSX Cannabis Index added a fraction to 144.87, while the CSE Composite Index lost 5.71 to 659.22. Canada's largest cannabis market, Ontario, has hit a noteworthy milestone. "Ontario Now has 1,000 Legal Cannabis Stores!" cheered an undated but new blog post on the website of the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS, the provincial wholesaler). It marvelled that the feat was accomplished in "just over two short years."

The pace of the increase is even faster than the OCS let on. The first dispensaries in Ontario opened in April, 2019, after 25 lucky lottery winners received licences from the provincial regulator (the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, or AGCO). Such licences continued to be rare and highly coveted for more than a year. By August, 2020, there were only 158 stores in the province -- sharply lagging Alberta, the second-largest market, which had 515 stores. The Ontario regulator responded to the rising chorus of criticism by announcing on Sept. 1, 2020, that it would pick up the pace of licensing. It has made good on that promise. There are now 1,095 stores in Ontario, to Alberta's 654.

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