The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Association selected the operators for the province’s 51 cannabis retail store permits.  More than two-thirds of these successful applicants are from Saskatchewan or have operations in the province.

Receiving the Weyburn permits will be Torrance Aitken of Weyburn and Compass Cannabis Clinic, which operates in B.C. and Alberta.

According to Krista Lusted, marketing director for Compass Cannabis Clinic, their company is committed to supporting individuals as they explore alternative medicinal remedies. Their core philosophy is one of advocacy for patients who are looking to learn more about the marijuana industry and the variety in products that it affords. The vision of Compass Cannabis is to be Canada’s largest and most trusted cannabis clinic in providing patient education, advocacy and support.

“We have clinics that will be opening all over western Canada. It is very important to our company that we be respectful in the communities that we will be serving, that we keep the safety of residents in our mind, and act very professional with municipality partners and other business stakeholders,” said Lusted. “Advocacy and education is equally important, since we are fighting against the stigma of cannabis use, and how it is sold.”

Compass has entered into a join venture with Starbuds, a retail based out of Colorado, and they will be opening their cannabis retail business in Weyburn under the Starbuds brand. Compass Cannabis plan to leverage the expertise of Starbuds, which has operated in a mature recreational cannabis market for over four years, to become a leading distribution business within Canada’s cannabis industry.

The successful proponents for all cannabis retail store permits were selected through a two phase Request for Proposal (RFP) process that began in March.  The first phase involved a screening for qualifications focused on financial and sales/inventory tracking systems.  All those that qualified entered the second phase of the process, which was a lottery draw to select the successful operators.  The successful proponents have 45 days to begin the permitting process.  As a condition of their permit, retail cannabis permittees must be operating within 12 months of legalization.  Permits will not take effect until legalization occurs.

“This represents the next step in the process of having a privately-operated cannabis retail system carefully regulated by SLGA,” said Gene Makowsky, Minister Responsible for SLGA.  “There was a lot of interest in the public Request for Proposal process, resulting in many new businesses that will invest in our province.”

Cannabis retail stores must be standalone operations, selling only cannabis, cannabis accessories and ancillary items as defined by SLGA.  Alcohol sales will not be permitted in cannabis stores.  Cannabis retail locations are subject to local municipal zoning bylaws.