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Ontario has announced it is looking for places to set up marijuana stores run by the LCBO across the province.

The LCBO will work closely with municipal governments and local communities to decide the location of the stores, according to a release from the Finance Department.

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The province plans to set up 40 stores when the federal government legalizes recreational marijuana, expected in July 2018. There will be 80 standalone stores by July 2019 and 150 stores by 2020. The LCBO will also be in charge of selling pot online.

Municipal governments were sent letters with some guidelines on how the marijuana stores will be established.

The province wants to make sure stores are distributed across the province. LCBO guidelines will also ensure “youth are protected and the illegal market is addressed,” said the release. Stores won’t be located near schools, for example.

The public will be given a chance to comment on proposed store locations. Once the LCBO has identified a site, a notice will be postedonlineand at the location. There will be a chance for people to “ask questions and provide feedback” on the proposed location, the release said.