Anyone smoking marijuana this week didn’t buy it at an Okotoks retail store – there are no stores to be found. The only store owner who might have had the chance of opening by Oct. 17 — the day cannabis became legal across Canada — had that opportunity derailed due to an appeal. “No way I can’t do it,” said Mark Frank, the owner of the proposed Smiley’s Cannabis and Budz. “Because of the hearing we are massively delayed. Frustrated to the point where we may consider not even going into the business and selling out.” Smiley’s won its appeal on Sept. 13 and it was the only store in position to be set up today at its location at the former Animal House pet store near Millennium Lanes and the Okotoks Cinemas. There are three other cannabis retail stores that have applied to come to Okotoks but the time for an appeal does not elapse until Oct. 23. “Under provincial legislation a discretionary use has a 21-day appeal period in which affected parties can appeal the decision of the development authority,” said town planner Kari Florizone. Those prospective cannabis stores must have an approved development permit before building permits are released. The three proposals are at 201 Southridge Dr. (Cimarron); 200 Southridge Dr. (Westmount); and 220 N. Railway St. (Okotoks Business Park). Smiley’s passed the appeal process, but now the business doesn’t seem quite as appealing to Frank. He believes it will be difficult for a small store to make a go in the cannabis business. “There is massive consolidation that will happen. I thought that would happen in one to three years, it is happening now, where mom and pops are being bought out quickly and fast,” Frank said. He said he is looking at the possibility of selling to a larger operation. “I am going to get swallowed up sooner or later,” Frank said. “It’s unfortunate but I think that is the way it is going to go.” Frank said regardless of whether he sells or not, he predicts a cannabis retail store will open at the Animal House location by mid November. That’s not to say there won’t be any legal pot floating around Okotoks as of Oct. 17. Recreation cannabis can be purchased online at albertacannabis.org and it will be delivered to the customer’s door via Purolator or Canada Post. The provincial government is the only recreational cannabis online provider in Alberta. Proper measures are being taken to ensure the person ordering online is 18 or older to legally purchase the cannabis. A soft credit check will be done to verify the applicant is who he or she says they are and that they are of age, said Chara Goodings, senior communications officer at Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis. If someone doesn’t have a credit score, a driver’s licence or government-issued ID can be uploaded. A delivery should take between one and four days. Identification will be asked for upon delivery to ensure the person is 18. “Each order is a maximum of 30 grams, which is the legal limit you can have on your person in public,” Goodings said. While marijuana became legal today there has been one location, Total Health Cannax, where medicinal marijuana products has been ordered in the Foothills since it opened earlier this year. The clinic provides educational programs concerning the health benefits of cannabis and CBD products. There are physicians on board to counsel and prescribe in the best possible manner. The one thing you won’t get at the clinic is cannabis. All of the prescriptions are delivered by courier as required by the provincial government. There are no drugs on site. A feature on Total Health Cannax will appear in next week’s Western Wheel. [yop_poll id="18"]
