Some cannabis stores won’t be ready for 10/17

Retailers will be able to sell cannabis from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., but will be able to set their own store hours

When cannabis becomes legal on Oct. 17, nine of the licensed retailers will not be ready to open their doors.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corp. announced late on Friday that 20 of 29 retailers are expected to open their doors. Those retailers will be allowed to sell cannabis between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2 a.m. seven days a week.

Similar to alcohol sales, those are the legally allowed times, but individual retailers will be able to set their own hours as they see fit.

The areas that will not have their physical locations ready in time include Canopy Growth’s storefronts in Bonavista, Happy Valley-goose Bay, and Conception Bay South, and Oceanic Releaf’s Rocky Harbour, Marystown, and Port aux Basques locations.

Elsewhere, retail locations in Conne River, Flatrock, and The Healthy Vibe location in Conception Bay South are not expected to be open on legalization day.

All of the Loblaws locations are expected to be open in time for legalization.

But that doesn’t mean pot will not be available in those areas.

Once 12:01 a.m. hits on Oct. 17, the liquor corporation’s online direct-to-customer service will be online, where prospective cannabis users will be able to order directly from the website from any corner of the province, 24 hours a day.