The Manitoba government has a private sector retail model, with regulation through the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority (LGCA) and wholesale distribution through Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation. The province is also open to private retailers selling online, and cannabis can be accessible within a 30-minute drive for about 90 per cent of the population.

Manitoba’s framework for retail cannabis has consisted of three phases.

• In 2017, the Province of Manitoba conducted a request for proposals for retail cannabis stores and conditionally accepted four proposals from the submissions.
• Further expansion occurred in 2018 when the Province of Manitoba conducted pre-qualifications seeking potential retailers interested in operating retail cannabis stores in Manitoba.
• On May 22, 2020, the third phase of Manitoba’s retail cannabis framework was announced by the Province of Manitoba. Starting on June 1, 2020, businesses applied to Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries for a cannabis store retailer agreement.

As of October 2022, the LGCA has licensed 167 stores – 98 in Winnipeg, 8 in Brandon, 7 in Selkirk, 3 in Portage la Prairie, Thompson and in Morden, 2 in Altona, Beausejour, Flin Flon and in Morris, one each in other areas.

In 2021-22, there were 18 federal license holders, including licenses for cultivation, processing, micro cultivation and micro processing.

Data collected by Statistics Canada show that retail sales in Manitoba totaled $100 million in 2020 comparing to about $60 million in 2019. Total sales reached $148 million in 2021 and ten months of 2022 brought in nearly $150 million, peaking in July at over $17 million.

The Cannabis Intelligence Briefing: Canada Leads the Way on Global Cannabis Legalization report, published by Arcview Market Research and in partnership with BDS Analytics, suggests Manitoba cannabis market will grow to almost $245 million in 2024.

Manitoba Cannabis Market Infographics

Cannabis micro Cultivation Business Plan Sample, Manitoba (Open Book)

Cannabis business plan templates for Canada can be found on cannabusinessplans.ca.