An Ohio company has been selected to develop Alberta’s online platform for recreational cannabis sales.
OnX Enterprise Solutions, headquartered in Cincinnati, will be responsible for building and managing the platform for three years, with options to extend the term up to 10 years.
Alberta will pay OnX 15.8 million Canadian dollars ($12.3 million) for the first three-year contract.
The information technology company has 11 locations in Canada.
Alberta is one of eight provinces with plans to monopolize online orders when recreational marijuana sales begin in Canada.
Only Manitoba and Saskatchewan will allow privately owned businesses to compete for online sales.
Alberta has received about 87 applications to operate retail cannabis stores. There is no deadline to apply.
The outlets will not be allowed to sell recreational marijuana products online.
Trans-provincial shipments of recreational marijuana will not be allowed.
Medical marijuana, however, will continue to be dispensed directly by licensed producers regardless of provincial boundaries.