After opting in to retail cannabis stores this year, Collingwood, Ont., will have its first legal pot shop by Christmas.

Louis Laskovski, who won the licence during the previous government lottery, teamed up with Sessions Cannabis to open the store.

“After an intensive government approval process, we strive to become a reliable and trusted source of information about cannabis along with being a leading retailer of the product,” Laskovski said in a press release.

“We know there is demand in Collingwood and the surrounding area. In our experience, customers are becoming more sophisticated and want an alternative to the black market.”

Steven Fry, president and co-founder of Sessions Cannabis, hopes to clear up the stigma that has put a haze around the cannabis industry. “The space will be a bright, clean and welcoming environment,” Fry said in the release. “Our focus is to help educate the community while offering access to cannabis that is legal and Health Canada quality controlled.”

Sessions Cannabis Collingwood Store is looking to hire 15 staff including full-time, permanent positions according to CollingwoodToday.ca. The grand opening is scheduled for Dec. 20 per Google Maps.

The store will be open seven days a week, being open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and closing a little earlier on Sunday, operating between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.