This was known on 8/13/2018. Aurora seems to be pleased with this as stated in this PR on 8/14/2018.
Aurora Cannabis and Alcanna Applaud Ontario Government Decision to Open Province to Private Retail of Cannabis
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Aurora Cannabis Inc.
Aug 14, 2018, 07:30 ET
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Alcanna to Rapidly Establish "Significant Presence" of Aurora-Branded Cannabis Stores in Ontario
TSX: ACB & CLIQ
EDMONTON, Aug. 14, 2018 /CNW/ - Aurora Cannabis Inc. ("Aurora") (TSX: ACB) (OTCQB: ACBFF) (Frankfurt: 21P; WKN: A1C4WM) and Alcanna Inc. ("Alcanna") (TSX: CLIQ) applaud the Ontario Government on its new plans for the responsible sale of recreational cannabis products through government-operated online sales, and the private sector.
Aurora and Alcanna have entered into a license agreement which – as soon as regulations permit – will allow Alcanna to open retail cannabis stores under the brand name "Aurora". Alcanna has made considerable progress in preparing for this exciting opportunity and has identified over 100 potential retail locations throughout the province already. This agreement represents a significant competitive advantage and will allow for the rapid establishment of a robust network of cannabis retail stores that comply with all provincial and municipal requirements, making product, consumer and public safety a top priority. Together, the two companies have the technology, relationships, and supply chain and retail expertise to quickly establish a full network of stores across the province as soon as they are permitted.
"Allowing a private retail channel in Ontario for recreational cannabis is good news for industry, consumers, and taxpayers, and will go a long way to making a meaningful impact on the grey market," said Aurora CEO Terry Booth. "It's the right thing to do, and we commend Premier Ford and his government for taking this bold step. Through Alcanna, the nation's largest private retailer of a controlled substance, we will leverage long-standing relationships with landlords, regulators and other stakeholders, and through superior capitalization, we will rapidly establish a significant presence in the province."
"Alcanna has made considerable progress in preparing for this exciting opportunity. We started leveraging our existing relationships with commercial landlords across Ontario the day after the June 7th election. We have identified over 100 potential retail locations throughout the province already, and we will be ready to go with fully functional stores as soon as we are permitted," said James Burns, CEO of Alcanna. "For the last six months, our expert teams in store development, merchandising, training and product knowledge have been working steadily toward bringing the first cannabis retail stores to life in Alberta. We're thrilled about the prospect of bringing that expertise to Ontario and will open as many stores as the government will allow after April 1, 2019."
Aurora and Alcanna will reimagine the customer retail experience with fully immersive, state-of-the-art stores that offer an inviting and educational brand experience. Highly trained Category Specialists will engage new and experienced customers with superior product knowledge and socially responsible advice.
In February, Aurora announced its strategic investment in Alcanna (formerly Liquor Stores NA), the Edmonton, Alberta-based beverage alcohol retailer with approximately 230 retail outlets in Western Canada and Alaska, with a view to establishing a leading brand of cannabis retail outlets. This forward-thinking partnership leverages Aurora's brand leadership, high-quality products, customer care and scientific innovation with Alcanna's well-established retailing infrastructure and expertise, particularly it's 25-year history of safely selling controlled substances in retail settings requiring strict compliance with government regulations. In preparing for the roll-out of this network, the companies have entered into an agreement governing the branding and operational aspects of the new cannabis stores.
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