This morning Greater Sudbury opened the doors to its first legal cannabis dispensary, Canna Cabana, one of two stores to be introduced in Northern Ontario under the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
If you hadn't heard the news, you may have smelled the BBQ, hosted until this evening along with music from DJ Booma as part of Canna Cabana's official grand opening block party. Doors to the dispensary opened about a half-hour later than expected around 9:30 a.m. this morning, but that didn't stop people from taking their place in line as early as 7 a.m.
Two police officers have been stationed outside of the dispensary for the day, directing traffic and ensuring that the crowd, which has now wrapped itself around the side and back of the four-corner dispensary, can shop safely.
Delayed by provincial licensing, the dispensary opens its doors 20 days after the government regulated date of April 1, a setback that has cost owners' a $12,500 fine. The dispensary may also be penialized an additional $12,500, for not having opened before April 15.
At this point in time, Highlife Dispensary on Marcus Drive has yet to recieve their provincial licensing.
Sudbury's Canna Cabana, along with 23 additional locations to be opened or that have opened across Ontario, is owned by the parent company High Tide Inc. An Alberta-based, retail-focused cannabis corporation which in addition to selling cannabis at the majority of their locations, manufacturers and distributes smoking accessories as well as cannabis lifestyle products.
A number of these products are showcased in the display cases of Sudbury's Canna Cabana, neatly lined on either side of the 2,200-square-foot storefront.
"We're so happy to look at people's faces when they come into the store," said Michael Hogewoning, one of the four partners who own the location.
"With all the LED lights and the glittering glassware - it's a clean, safe atmosphere like an apple store... it's not a TV dispensary where it's a dark, dingy corner where you slip the guy some cash."
Hogewoning owns the Sudury dispensary along with his partners Michael Colborne, Michael McLaren and Jeff Rule.
Rather than having their product behind a counter, Canna Cabana has chosen to display their product in glass cases located throughout the center of their store. This island set-up allows customers to peruse items at their leisure, reading the additional information included with each cannabis product that outlines the components of that particular strand and the effects it is likely to have on you.
"That interactive aspect allows customers to determine what's better for them," said Canna Cabana sales associate Kyle Huter. Sudbury's Canna Cabana has an estimated 70 strains in house at this time, not including their quality CBD products, with a pretty even balance between indica, sativa and hybrid product.
"Sativa tends to be used by more creative people, people that are looking for energy to get by -- more for morning/afternoon use," said Huter. "Whereas indica tends to be stronger, so people use that more in the evening to help sleep ... it's usually used by people who are looking for something that puts them 'in da couch.'"
Cannabis product is sourced through the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS), the only distributor available to cannabis retailers. The product arrives pre-packaged and can be purchased in either one-gram, 3.5-gram or seven-gram quanities, with one-gram and half-gram quantities offered for pre-rolled joints. While at this point in time there is no loose product in-store, Canna Cabana is looking to install 'smell-stations' so customers may interact with the product prior to purchase.
Once a customer has decided upon a product, they are asked to speak with a sales associate who will begin a personalized shopping list on their iPad. Once a customer's order is complete, the sales associate will bring your product to the counter with you and send that shopping list directly to the cashier.
Canna Cabana sales associates are the only individuals allowed to handle the cannabis product until it is purchased by the customer and are available for any questions a customer may have regarding the product. "We lucked-out huge with the staff," said Hogewoning. "They're very social people, lots of retail experience and enjoy everything about the product and the market."
"They're so stoked and full of energy that we have to tell them to go home at the end of the night...it's like kids at Christmas," said Hogewoning.
But the team at Canna Cabana isn't the only one excited about the grand opening said Hogewoning.
"One hundred years of prohibition coming off is a big deal everywhere and we're just amazed at the response we're getting, whether its going to the bank, checking into the hotel, or just talking to people over the years - they're just ecstatic that a pot store is opening up."
While Hogewoning and his partners are well aware of the stigma they face, he believes the dispensary "is going to bring a lot of happiness to the people."
"It's good for everybody, everybody wins."
Check out photos from the grand opening here.
