Prairie Cannabis Welcoming retail space

By Sponsored content

Prairie Cannabis—Three Months and Counting

Apr 1, 2019 | 5:40 AM

With the recent legalization allowing cannabis retailers in Canada, the owner and operator of Prairie Cannabis in Prince Albert, Jim Southam, is optimistic and excited! Located at 180 – 17^th Street West, (2^nd Avenue and 17^th Street), Southam and his staff are eager and ready to answer any and all questions residents might have regarding this new business.

Prairie Cannabis opened its doors on December 19, 2018, just two months after legalization. Many of the 51 retailers granted a licence to sell Cannabis in Saskatchewan are still not open for business. Southam pushed to get his store ready to serve the residents of Prince Albert and surrounding community as quickly as possible. Licences were awarded in June 2018 and legalization took place October 17.

Southam is ecstatic to join the industry. “I was a lab technician in a northern uranium mining company for 22 years until it came to an end last year—I couldn’t have asked for a better career change. I had started looking into this industry 4-5 years ago. I went into my first legal dispensary in 2014 in Colorado where it peaked my interest. Since then, I’ve done a fair bit of travelling and reading as much information as I could find on the industry and the business.”

He continues, “I really feel that the cannabis industry is going to change a lot. By being given this opportunity of owning a store, I feel an incredible obligation—one to establish and develop communication, getting that education out there. There’s a lot of work to be done and I want to be a part of the industry, to make a change, and do some good in the community. I want to do a lot in this industry. I think it’s unique. It’s a grass-roots movement and I’m excited to be a part of it.” Prairie Cannabis has created a safe, welcoming environment, no appointment needed, and we’re here to answer your questions, concerns and curiosity.

Court

Cries of racism fill courtroom as judge stays impaired driving charge in Saskatoon

3h ago

Community support

The Hunger Games return to Prince Albert

6h ago

Raiders win 5-3

Defensive scoring leads Raiders over Wheat Kings

14h ago

Southam says the average age of his customers is 40 plus, with many seniors also inquiring about cannabis use. Many customers have previous experience with the plant, but many are new to cannabis due to its new legal status. Prairie Cannabis plans to hold information sessions to help educate and inform members of the community about the history of the cannabis plant, properties of the cannabis plant (THC, CBD, terpenes, etc.), as well as inform interested participants of the various ways to consume cannabis. Check the website periodically for updates on information sessions: www.prairiecanna.ca. If your group or organization would like a presentation on cannabis, contact Prairie Cannabis at 306-970-1199 to arrange a speaker for your next meeting or event.

Prairie Cannabis belongs to a group consisting of 14 other retailers in the province. The members are all independent business people and they are not affiliated with big, corporate cannabis. The group has members from right across the province and they have been working to secure product for members as well as helping each other wade through the myriad of regulation surrounding the industry. Support from like-minded members who face the same issues has been invaluable in this new industry. The SLGA (Saskatchewan Liquor & Gaming Authority) does not wholesale cannabis to retailers. Retailers can approach licenced producers directly to secure product—Saskatchewan is the only provincial jurisdiction to take this hands-off approach.

If you can’t get to the store, or choose not to visit in person, Prairie Cannabis also has a website: www.prairiecanna.ca. In addition to pertinent information about cannabis, the site offers on-line ordering which includes home delivery to Prince Albert residents. Southam elaborates, “I expect home delivery to be quite a big part of the market, but right now we’re only able to accommodate Prince Albert area residents until we sort out some legal issues allowing delivery to our rural residents.” Purolator will soon be available for customers with a discrete street address for delivery. The SLGA is working with Canada Post to sort out I.D. issues and delivery before mail order will be available to all residents in the province.

Prairie Cannabis is committed to serving the recreational cannabis consumer through home delivery and in-store shopping. They’re located at 180-17^th Street West, Prince Albert. The store is open Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. Check out their website at www.prairiecanna.ca for further information and updates.