Five-year anniversary since cannabis legalization; more changes may be on the way

“When we first opened in 2019, we started out with just a few products,” Christy Marchment, manager of Shades of Green Cannabis, said. “I think we had dry flower and pre-rolls.”

Five years since the legalization of marijuana and it seems every day, there are new ways on the market to use the plant.

“I’m just excited to see what else they come out with and what innovations they come up with now that they can learn more about cannabis,” Marchment said. “Every week that we get on orders like Christmas. It’s very exciting. I can’t wait to see what’s next.”

It may be an exciting industry today, but many who got into the cannabis game at the very beginning said they had no idea what running a pot store was going to look like.

“I have experience of running a business, and this has definitely been an eye-opener. Being a brand new industry to Canada. It’s very exciting. We’re all learning,” owner of The Shore Cannabiz Shop, Chris Lyth, told CFJC News. “There’s been some ups and downs, but we’re still going strong and still enjoy an amazing group of customers that come to see us.”

Braeden Flundra said he’s been coming to the Shore Cannabiz shop since it opened, and while there are an increasing number of options when it comes to buying pot, Flundra says he’s loyal to this Mom-and-Pop store.

“One, it benefits the economy locally. Two, it helps these guys because can’t say no to coming here for a nice local,” Flundra said “Honestly, it’s just a different shift of… where I want to buy my product. If I know where I’m getting my product and know what I’m smoking… I want to know what I’m smoking.”

The biggest competitor for many local shops are shops on T’kemlups land. Known as the grey area, these shops don’t have to comply with the same Health Canada regulations and thus can offer higher THC content.

Currently, most weed stores can only sell edible products with 10 mg or less of THC. However, a review of the Cannabis Act will be presented to parliament in March of next year.

“Hopefully the revisions to the Cannabis Act will help bring us in line and be more competitive against the illegal market,” Lyth explained. “We’re hoping that it will allow us to compete. A lot of people look for high THC in their edibles and we just can’t provide it because of the restrictions provided by Health Canada.”

by Sydney Chisholm

Five-year anniversary since cannabis legalization; more changes may be on the way

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