Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford said he’s “open” to privatizing the Ontario cannabis market for sales in private stores “maybe, down the road,” but the province needs to be “super, super, super careful” when it comes to legal cannabis sales.

In an interview with Global News, host Alan Carter pressed Ford on whether he would be open to cannabis in private stores.

“At the beginning, it has to be controlled,” he said. “Let’s see the effects. Let’s just keep it as it is now in the liquor store and then I’d be open to it. If it’s alright. If everything goes smooth.”

“It’s a road we haven’t went down before. We start off, you know, in a controlled environment under the LCBO. And then I would be open to putting it out — again, I want to see how it goes first,” Ford said.

Ford took the softer, if clearer, position on Ontario’s soon-to-be-legal recreational pot market after Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne went on the offensive this week over comments Ford made on CBC Radio, where he suggested he’s open to liberalizing pot sales.

“I’ve always been open to a fair market. I let the market dictate. I don’t like the government controlling anything,” Ford said on CBC earlier this week.

But he also said he would put the question to his caucus colleagues before coming out with any policies.

“I’m open to a free market. I’m going to consult with our caucus and we’ll be able to come up with a very strong game plan.”

Wynne said privatizing the market is “reckless,” and said that parents don’t want to see “cannabis sold next to candy bars in corner stores.”

The Wynne government plans to sell cannabis exclusively through the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), the province’s crown corporation that sells alcohol. Cannabis, though, would be sold separately from alcohol through a number of different storefronts called the Ontario Cannabis Store.

In his interview with Global, Ford accused Wynne of “playing politics” for the cannabis dig, and said he “wouldn’t be in favour” of what she characterized as his position.

“If it was up to me, I wouldn’t even have this legalized,” Ford added. “But the prime minister [is making it legal] and we have to deal with it.”

The federal Liberal government plans to legalize and regulate recreational use of cannabis this summer. Bill C-45, the cannabis act, is currently proceeding through the Senate.