Fuchsia Dragon | [email protected]
Two cannabis stores are preparing to open in Jasper, but only one has the official go-ahead from the government.
Fleur Cannabis Boutique was one of the first five stores across Alberta to be issued a cannabis retail licence on May 30 after the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) lifted its moratorium.
The retail store, spearheaded by Jenna McGrath, has been integrated into her Connaught Drive business location at Jasper Wellness.
Fleur鈥檚 website says the store鈥檚 downstairs location will give a level of privacy for those who want it.
鈥淣o one on the street will know if you鈥檙e leaving a wellness service appointment, a yoga class, massage therapy visit, or retail herbal shopping,鈥� it says.
McGrath said she has ordered her first products, hired staff and anticipates a June 28 opening.
She said: 鈥淚t has been super exciting and busy and full on - there has been a lot to do.
鈥淓verything is great. The product is ordered, it was a great choice and array of options of what I wanted to get. We have awesome staff and now we are ready to rock.鈥�
New licences were halted in November 2018 when the province suffered from massive product shortage.
AGLC said it only received 20 percent of the cannabis that had been ordered from producers.
But the suspension was lifted at the end of May and AGLC has resumed accepting new applications and is issuing licences - currently five licences per week.
Spiritleaf on Patricia Street, which has displayed signage for months now, is still waiting for a licence.
But AGLC was unable to share details on where licensees are at in the queue, and Spiritleaf declined to give further details.
They would not say if the AGLC licence is the final piece in their Jasper puzzle or how long it will take the store to open once the license is issued.
In a statement, Darren Bondar, president and CEO of Spiritleaf, said: "We look forward to opening Spiritleaf towards the end of July once it receives its final approvals from the AGLC."
AGLC said if supply levels go down it will consider reinstating the suspension on new licences.
