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First marijuana shop opens doors in northwestern Alberta

Nov 14, 2018 | 3:02 PM

Almost a month after marijuana became legalized in Canada, the first cannabis retail store has opened its doors in northwestern Alberta. 

Bud Runners Cannabis was open for business on Tuesday in Peace River and Cody Gerk, one of the owners, says the first couple of days have been well received. 

“We had a lot of positive feedback and everybody was happy to see it, glad it is finally here. We were fairly steady all day long,” says Gerk.

Gerk says they were able to apply back in April and he attributes the lag in getting a license to an overwhelmed Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis commission. He adds that it is cool to be the first this far north and with another license, they will be opening another location in Grimshaw in the near future. 

Meanwhile, the first license from AGLC has been given in Grande Prairie. With no set opening date yet, Lucky Leaf Cannabis President Sheldon D’Souza says it is a new industry, which meant there were a few hoops to jump through. 

“Hopefully we will be the first one to open but we aren’t going to be the first one just for the sake of being the first one to open. I want to get everything right,” says D’Souza. 

Comparing the way provinces have handled legalization, D’Souza thinks Alberta is doing a good job getting the stores up and running. 

Lucky Leaf will be looking at products, training staff and filling their shelves prior to opening. An opening date will be announced later this month.