Cannabis stocks rallied out of the gate Friday, after a report that the Canadian province of Ontario will open up the market for retailers with plans to issue about 20 new store approvals starting in April 2020.

The news, reported by network Canadian Broadcasting Corp., eased concerns about the shortage of stores that has hampered the development of the legal cannabis market in Canada and allowed the black market to continue to thrive. Ever since Canada fully legalized cannabis for adult recreational use in October 2018, licensed producers have struggled to bring product to market, blocking their path of profitability.