In the wake of Alberta gripping the top pot spot in Canadian cannabis sales, the province is continuing to roll out more legal cannabis stores, having surpassed 250 early last month.

The rollouts coincide with an earlier one this week in which Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) declared the province’s cannabis shortage to be over.

“We have 277 retail cannabis locations throughout the province which I think is a good indicator of increased production and being able to provide adequate supply for retailers,” AGLC senior communications officer Heather Holmen said in a statement earlier this week.

Canna Cabana, is one such store. Owned by High Tide Inc, the Alberta-based, retail-focused cannabis chain announced that their new retail locations in Calgary and Vegreville have received their first cannabis deliveries from the AGLC. Starting this weekend, Canna Cabana clients will be able to purchase their choice of cannabis products such as flower, oils, and sprays, as well as accessories and “cannabis lifestyle products,” with opening festivities kicking off on Sep. 7.

With the two new locations, Canna Cabana now has 23 locations across the country.

In the wake of the recent shortage, the rollout indicates that many Albertan cannabis retailers are optimistic that the lottery system — through which much of their product was purchased — will soon be a thing of the past.

“I don’t t know how they wean us off it,” Lake City Cannabis operator Ryan Roch told The GrowthOp. But it’s possible if we get to a process where every retailer is in a very good position to have adequate stock.”

Until then, Roch says, some delays are “part of life and hopefully, in the next two months, we’ll see an increase” of product. Although he’s unsure when the lottery will end, Roch thinks the AGLC will be able to accommodate and supply the growing number of retail locations sprouting throughout the province.

“I’m just going by word,  but what I’ve been told is that the next two weeks, we should see a wider range of products become available,” he says.

“Hopefully by then, we can kind of put away the access issue.”