An established downtown North Battleford business has been approved to sell cannabis after the province granted them a license.
Dale Whiteside, owner of Rockshop Smokeshop, said they have received their cannabis products and expect to have them ready for retail sale Thursday or Friday.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to sell happiness,鈥� said Whiteside.
Rockshop applied for a permit from the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority last October.
鈥淚t took them five-and-half months to do their due diligence. Then it took another five months to get the building up to code.鈥�
Whiteside also upgraded his security system, installing an $11,000 surveillance and alarm system.
He has operated Rockshop for 12 years and selling legal marijuana was always his end game.
鈥淭hat was my whole intention, to become a legal pot seller,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here was no Plan B, there was always just a Plan A.鈥�
Last year the City of North Battleford approved Rockshop鈥檚 discretionary land-use application since it met the city鈥檚 bylaw requirements. The shop keeps at least a 225-metre buffer from schools and parks.
Whiteside said he believes he is the only independent and locally owned cannabis seller in North Battleford and hopes to compete against the corporate-backed cannabis stores in the city. He is located at 1221 A 鈥� 101 Street and has expanded hours, including 小蓝视频 open on Sundays and holidays.
鈥淲e鈥檙e North Battleford鈥檚 downtown pot store,鈥� he said.
Rockshop sells聽cannabis accessories, CBD products and a variety of recreational cannabis.
鈥淲e will have beginner to the connoisseur,鈥� said Whiteside.
