The provincial government has announced that starting in October it will begin selling marijuana online.
It will then allow private retailers to start selling pot next year, said the province in an announcement on Monday afternoon.
It's a change in direction from the previous Liberal government, which had planned on having the province run the retail stores.
The province will run the online business but will not operate the physical stores.
Municipalities will also have a one-time window where they can opt out of allowing private marijuana stores in their municipalities.
Online pot sales will begin Oct. 17 and the private retail stores on April 1, 2019.
Minister of Finance Vic Fedeli and Attorney General Caroline Mulroney made the announcement in Toronto.
Pricing was not discussed.
The province also plans on providing $40 million over two years to municipalities to "help local governments keep their communities safe."
"We will be ready to put in place a safe, legal system for cannabis retail that will protect consumers," said Mulroney in a news release. "We will also be ready to undermine the illegal market and protect Ontario's roads. Most importantly of all, we will be ready to protect our kids."
"Throughout this process we have held fast to some non-negotiable principles: Public safety is paramount," said Fedeli. "We will make sure our youth are safe; our roads are safe and that we work with our municipalities to ensure our neighbourhoods are safe."
The province's online Ontario Cannabis Store will include a verification system that will ensure safe at home delivery for cannabis products and ensuring those making the purchase are 19 or older, the news release said.
They said the private stores will be "tightly regulated."
"As part of this process the government will begin consultations with municipalities, Indigenous communities, law enforcement, public health advocates, businesses and consumer groups and representatives of the other provinces with private retail to ensure that Ontario's private retail model remains safe while helping to eliminate the illegal market.
"The Government of Ontario will not be in the business of running physical cannabis stores," said Fedeli. "Instead, we will work with private sector businesses to build a safe, reliable retail system that will divert sales away from the illegal market."
People ordering marijuana online through the provincial outlet will have to sign for the package when it arrives and prove they are 19.
