It’s been nearly three years since the Canadian Cannabis Act paved the way to the legalization of cannabis in Canada on Oct. 17, 2018.
Since that time, new cannabis retailers have been trying to find the right mix of products and retail innovation to attract customers away from the black market and into legitimate and legal dispensaries.
With the upcoming grand opening of its latest franchise, Sessions Cannabis hopes to accomplish that feat by taking the cannabis dispensary to a whole new level of customer experience.
“This store is going to be what’s called the 3.0 store,” said Jesse Prior, manager of Sessions Cannabis. “This one is a new and improved, never before seen design. This will be a one-of-a-kind dispensary. There will be no other Sessions store like this one unless they’re being built in the future.”
The Sessions chain of stores has grown to over 40 locations, but with the new Sudbury location the company is focusing as much on enhancing customer experience as it is on offering a wide variety of products.
For starters, the new Sessions Cannabis on Sudbury’s LaSalle Boulevard will feature an intimate coffee and snack bar offered free to shoppers complete with a lounge and seating area. Prior says the purpose of the lounge is to provide customers with a relaxing, inviting space where they can learn more about the products offered in the store.
“Let’s say it’s your first time in a cannabis dispensary,” he said. “If you’re not sure about the products, you can sit down with one of our professionals and discuss the needs you have or what you hope to accomplish with your cannabis experience.”
One of the issues with the cannabis industry in its first three years of operation has been an overwhelming number of products. Too much choice has often left consumers confused about what products they actually want to buy. Prior said Sessions will be offering its usual selection of cannabis-based CBD and THC products along with some new innovative products including brownies in a cup, hot sauces, massage oils, and even lubes for intimate pleases. In addition, Sessions will also be offering some favourites consumers should know about.
“A lot of people don’t know we sell hash or shatter or wax,” he said. “Many people don’t know hash is legalized. They think that when marijuana became legal it was just marijuana and they still had to go to their “guy” to pick up hash. At Sessions, we carry one of the largest selections of hash, shatter, and different kinds of concentrates in any dispensary that I’ve seen.”
Prior said that hash can be purchased in one, two, or 3.5 gram quantities. Sessions also carries many types of THC oils and a wide variety of CBD and THC edibles, all which will be available at the new Sudbury location. Sessions will offer curious and eager consumers access to the new store during a soft launch Dec. 15th and 16. However, they have big plans for the official grand opening on December 17th, including performances from a Las Vegas magician/illusionist that might make it worth the wait.
Plan to make it a ‘green Christmas’ at the grand opening of Sessions Cannabis, 900 LaSalle Boulevard in Sudbury.