By Tyler Marr

North Battleford readies for first legal cannabis purchases

Oct 17, 2018 | 10:09 AM

Standing huddled together with coffee in hand and toques on their head, residents in the Battlefords were eagerly waiting for the doors to open on the region’s first legal cannabis outlets Wednesday.

“Excited and ready to be the first ones,” were the words from three Battleford residents patiently waiting outside Jimmy’s Cannabis Shop in the town at 7 a.m. 

“It is a whole new world,” Zack Jones said, never believing this day would come in his lifetime.

Oct. 17 marked the day the veil was lifted on cannabis prohibition in Canada, making it the second nation in the world to fully legalize the substance from coast to coast to cost. Uruguay legalized marijuana in 2013.

For Jim Davey, president and CEO of Curativa Cannabis, a division of Envirosafe Chemicals Canada, whose North Battleford CannabisCo received approval to operate a licensed retail outlet in the city, the day was a long time coming. The Battlefords area is one of the first in this part of the province to have stores open on this first day of legalization. 

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“It is a very historic time for us but a very serious time,” he said.

Davey said the process up to this point was not without challenge, but praised the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Association for its help in ushering the process along.

He said his wife will be the first person in North Battleford to purchase the first legal leaf on offer.

Amy Stevens, stakeholder relations lead with Fire & Flower, an Edmonton-based cannabis retail company who announced Tuesday it will acquire North Battleford CannabisCo and operate the store in North Battleford, said each employee on the floor has undergone over 90 hours of extensive training.

“We are an education based retail model that is one of our key priorities and to make sure that people are informed and know what they are doing before they purchase so they are safe and comfortable with the product,” she said.

Those entering the store will immediately have their identification checked and be taken through the different strains, potencies and consumption methods. She recommends everyone “starts low and goes slow,” to see how the product will affect their body.

Earlier today, the federal government promised it will soon be quicker — and less expensive — to obtain a criminal pardon for previous convictions of simple pot possession.

Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said coming legislation will waive the waiting period and fee for those seeking a pardon for possession offences. The Liberals have faced pressure to address the pot pardon issue, including within their own caucus, due to the effect of marijuana-related convictions on marginalized Canadians.

Until now, simple possession of up to 30 grams of marijuana has been punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and six months in jail. Individuals have been eligible to apply for a pardon through the Parole Board of Canada five years after the conviction is handed down.

More to come …

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr