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Saskatchewan is planning to allow private retailers to sell cannabis products, once they are legalized this summer by the federal government.

Regina will be able to have six retailers, while Saskatoon can have seven. About 40 stores, which must be stand-alone shops and will also be able to sell products online, will be located in 60 communities throughout the province.

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The Saskatchewan Party government is allowing communities with a population of at least 2,500 to be eligible for a cannabis retailer.

A recent government study found 45 per cent of citizens want to see Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SGLA) run the stores; however, that won’t be the case.

SLGA Minister Gene Makowsky was unable to say what the provincial government estimates the cannabis market to be worth in Saskatchewan, but some studies have pegged the market as being worth around $23 billion countrywide.

Makowsky described it as an “ill-defined market right now” and said choosing to allow private retailers, rather then the province, to sell it “de-risks” the taxpayer and prevents “increasing the footprint of government.”