Premier Kathleen Wynne is keeping an open mind about what — if any — role the Liquor Control Board of Ontario will have in the recreational marijuana business.

In her first public statement since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s federal task force on legalization released its recommendations Tuesday, Wynne was noncommittal when asked about the LCBO’s involvement in cannabis sales.

“I really believe that this is all in process and I think it’s good that we’re starting to hear some directional information from the federal government,” she told reporters in Montreal after a meeting with Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard.

“But we’re going to let this play out and then we’ll engage with the federal government on next steps in our individual jurisdictions.”

While Wynne had mused about the province’s booze monopoly selling marijuana in its 650 stores alongside wine, beer, and spirits, she has come to the conclusion that’s not a good idea.

“It may not even be sold out of the LCBO. Because I’ve had people say to me we don’t want to have marijuana and alcohol sold out of the same places,” she told the Star in July, pointing out the government agency could instead be involved in “regulation and distribution and monitoring it in some way.”

The federal task force report, which is the blueprint for legislation being introduced next year and taking effect in 2018 or 2019, recommended “no co-location of alcohol or tobacco and cannabis sales, wherever possible.”

“When co-location cannot be avoided, appropriate safeguards must be put in place,” the report said, urging “limits on the density and location of storefronts, including appropriate distance from schools, community centres, public parks, etc.”

It also advised that marijuana could be sold through “dedicated storefronts with well-trained, knowledgeable staff” and “a direct-to-consumer mail-order system.”

At Queen’s Park — where bureaucrats from a dozen departments are developing the province’s marijuana strategy — no decisions have yet been made about what Ontario’s retail model will look like.

That means the LCBO could control distribution, with government-regulated marijuana then sold through pharmacies such as Shoppers Drug Mart.

Or there might be separate LCBO-run stores for marijuana that do not sell alcohol.

Meanwhile, the liquor giant is awaiting its marching orders from the province.

“The process to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana is still underway at the federal level,” said the LCBO’s Genevieve Tomney.

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“LCBO would take direction from the provincial government as to any role it may have in retailing cannabis.

“It is premature to speculate as to what that role may be, but we are paying close attention to the process as it unfolds and reviewing publicly available information, including the task force’s report.”

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