The Manitoba government laid out its plan for the sale and distribution of marijuana when it becomes legalized next summer.

The Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries will secure the supply of marijuana and track it in Manitoba, but private retail stores will be in charge of selling it.

Under the plan, municipalities will have the final say on where retail weed stores can set up shop, or they could choose to ban marijuana stores altogether.

Morris Mayor Gavin van der Linde says giving municipalities some control on this issue is a good thing.

"We understand our community best. We understand all the dynamics surrounding the different locations, which would mean that there would need to be a conditional use approval coming through the town to approve any location that sells marijuana."

The province is accepting applications from retailers to open one or more stores to sell cannabis. Applicants will have to meet certain criteria which include things such as distance from schools and protection of cannabis supply sources.

The province has indicated pot should be accessible within a 30-minute drive for about 90 percent of the population.

In the end, a community would have the power to keep those sales out of the community or put conditions in place to make sure that they are located in the correct areas. Ultimately, the final decision rests with the community, "which I think is the right thing to do," said van der Linde.

The province is currently working on a regulatory framework and licensing regime, according to Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen.