'More work to be done': Fort McMurray won't have cannabis stores open on Oct. 17

Fort McMurraywon't have any retail stores open when cannabis is legalized next week and that comes as no surprise to the mayor.

Canada's oilsandscapital isn't on the Alberta Gaming,Liquor and CannabisCommission's (AGLC)list of places thatwill have stores ready to open when cannabis is legalized next week.

The bulk of the 17 stores with licencesin place will be openingon Oct. 17 in the Edmonton area.

The municipality and businesses in the region have been working hard to get ready for cannabis legalization, said Don Scott, mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

"I am not surprised by that,it is obviously brand new and [legalization]is going at a fastpace in Canada," Scott said. "So there will be more work to be done."

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The municipality is still tweaking the cannabisbylaws that were first passedin July, Scott said in an interview Friday with CBCNews.

Municipal council will vote on revising those bylaws on Oct. 23 toclarify the locations where cannabis can be sold.

"We're going to make sure the [municipal rules]we get reflectthe community's needs," Scott said.

Although the locations won't be open next week, RMWB spokesperson AdamHardiman said the municipality is accepting and processingcannabis retail store applications.

The municipality has received 11 retailapplications and has issued three development permits to businesses two in downtown Fort McMurray and one in the neighbourhood of Stone Creek, Hardiman said.

Even though Fort McMurraywon't have a physical retail store on Oct. 17, residents can purchase marijuana through the Alberta government's online store, whichthe AGLC sayswill accept orders at 12:01 a.m.

In July, council voted on rules surrounding the sale and consumption of cannabis which were described byone lobby group asamong the strictest in Canada.

The smoking and vaping bylaws banned the use of cannabisin any location with public access, includingparks, sidewalks and transit facilities.

Residents also won't be able to smoke or vape cannabis in bars andrestaurants.

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Connect with David Thurton, CBC'sFort McMurraycorrespondent, onFacebook,Twitter,LinkedInor email him atdavid.thurton@cbc.ca