It's a sight typically seen in Royal Canadian Legion halls — veterans gathered and sharing stories. But instead, that was the scene at the opening ceremony for a new wellness centre in Headingley, Man. this weekend, which focuses on helping vets get medical marijuana.

The province's first Marijuana for Trauma centre opened on Saturday morning, the 13th such centre the company has opened in Canada.

The centre, located west of the Perimeter Highway at 4280 Portage Ave., helps veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions get access to marijuana for medicinal purposes.

"Marijuana for Trauma grew from an absolute need, a true need," said Riley McGee, the western Canada director of operations for the company.

Should the same festival offer both a “bud garden” and a bouncy castle?

A local medical marijuana advocate is proposing just that for a pro-cannabis event next spring.

Steven Stairs, president of the Winnipeg 4/20 organizing committee, said he’s met with city and provincial officials to discuss ways to add a kid-friendly element to festivities a day after the main event on April 20, 2017.

Otherwise known as 4/20, that’s the day cities around the world host pot-smoking demonstrations.

For years, Steven Stairs has advocated for medical marijuana users in Winnipeg – but recently, his audience has changed.

"It's definitely reaching a different demographic of seniors; that is much more unexpected than I ever thought it would be,” he said.

Recently, Stairs has started hosting information sessions at assisted living centres because residents are curious about cannabis.

"I tell seniors that doctors used to give me time frames for how long I would have vision,” said Stairs, who has glaucoma. “When I was 16, they said I’d be blind by 40. Then at 20, I'd be blind by 30 and since I started using medical marijuana they don't give me a time frame anymore."

So far, Stairs has spoken at three different facilities, including Riverwood Square.

The head of Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries says if recreational marijuana is legalized, it should at least initially be sold in retail stores separate from liquor stores. 

CEO John Stinson recently took a trip to Denver, Colo., in search of a pot-selling model that works. He toured recreational marijuana production and retail facilities and met with state officials.

"I saw a retail model that really impressed me," he said.

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries CEO John Stinson says a retail space in Colorado is an encouraging model for selling recreational marijuana in Manitoba. (Matt Kwong/CBC)

Winnipeg medical-marijuana patients hailed a federal court ruling that struck down "arbitrary and overbroad" legislation from the former Conservative government banning Canadian medical pot users from growing their own weed.

And the one company in Winnipeg with a federal licence to supply medical marijuana indicated the ruling won’t affect it, at least not in the short term.

The city’s most vocal advocate for medical-marijuana rights said even without knowing whether Ottawa will appeal the ruling, he couldn’t contain his delight.

File Photo

A developer is looking to setup a medical marijuana production facility in the Town of Morris.

Mayor Gavin van der Linde says the location being discussed used to be an old chicken barn, located in the heavy industrial area.

A conditional use application would need to be approved by the town.

A public hearing was held Thursday night, with about a dozen local residents in attendance expressing varying opinions. Notices were sent to residents living within 100 meters of the proposed site.