Applications are now being accepted by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) for wholesale cannabis permits, as well as licensed producer registrations.

If permitted, wholesalers will be able to purchase cannabis from federally-licensed producers (who are registered with the SLGA) to supply Saskatchewan, or from other permitted wholesalers in the province. The wholesalers, who must operate within Saskatchewan, will then only be able to sell to retailers.

There is no limit to the number of wholesale permits and no deadline to apply. Minister Responsible for SLGA Gene Makowsky said they wanted all wholesalers to have a chance.

"There's no direct dealing with consumers, so wholesalers will only be interacting with retailers," he said. "If somebody wants to have their chance at a wholesale license they can do so."

To receive a permit wholesalers must meet the criteria put in place by the SLGA. The SLGA will look at good character, storage and transportation security, and capacity to track and report inventory and sales.  

Makowsky said that the SLGA will dive in further to the review process.

"SLGA will look at any criminal convictions, any criminal activity, they'll look at if you've ever been involved in fraud or civil litigation, legal trouble."

The fee for a wholesale permit is $5,000 ($2,000 non-refundable application fee, $3,000 annual permit fee). The registration fee for federally-licensed producers is $2,000 ($500 non-refundable application fee, $1,500 annual permit fee).