The retailer that will be selling cannabis in Estevan – as well as three other communities – is hopeful they will be ready once cannabis becomes legal in Canada on Oct. 17.
Jimmy’s Cannabis Shop (formerly Prairie Sky Cannabis) won the lottery earlier this year to determine the single cannabis permit for each of Estevan, Battleford, Martensville and Moosomin.
Owner John Thomas, who operates the company with his brother David, said they have been very busy in the lead-up to Oct. 17. The company is on schedule to be open in Estevan for the legalization date, but the timeline is very tight.
“Any delay, no matter how minor, we are going to miss it,” said John Thomas. “I am confident that we will open in October in Estevan, but Oct. 17? If everything goes perfectly, we will be open.”
The stores in Martensville and Battleford are slightly ahead of schedule versus Estevan because Jimmy’s Cannabis didn’t have to go through the discretionary use process in those two communities. Moosomin will likely be the last of the four to open.
Staffing isn’t an issue in Estevan, he said. The issue has to do with the renovation of the location in a strip mall off of Kensington Avenue. The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) has to complete an inspection before the outlet can open.
“Once they’ve done an inspection, then we can have product delivered,” said Thomas. “But to have the product delivered, we have to pass the inspection, and to pass the inspection, we need to have the build finished.”
In addition to retail locations, Jimmy’s will have an e-commerce site that will offer online customers the same shopping experience and selection. Purchases can be picked up in-store or delivered through Canada Post.
Jimmy’s Cannabis Shop won the lone permit available for Estevan in June. Estevan city council approved the company’s location in July.
Since that time, the company has been working with SLGA to meet regulations and get its floor designed approved. The company has also been making sure its software component meets federal regulations and SLGA rules for inventory controls and sales, and it has been meeting with the City of Estevan on its business licence.
“Because it’s a new legalized market, there’s no out of the box solution that’s created to work for that,” he said.
The company announced on Sept. 12 that it had rebranded under the name Jimmy’s Cannabis Shop. There was already a company named Prairie Cannabis in Prince Albert, and a Living Skies Cannabis in Saskatoon, so the company changed its name to differentiate itself from those two entities.
Thomas said they came up with the new name because they wanted to have a name that’s unique, and the name goes with the fit of the store.
“It goes with what we’re trying to create, which is your local, neighbourhood cannabis shop,” said Thomas. “It’s really important to be focused on education, comfort and our Saskatchewan values.”
They knew there would be a lot of hurdles to clear, and they would have to do it quickly. It would be tight to be open by Oct. 17, especially since they’re operating four stores that are spread out across the province.
“Normally the process for that would have been more than five months,” said Thomas. “It’s been a challenge, but most of it has been expected.”
Both brothers have quit their jobs to focus on the venture full-time, because it has proven to be a large project.
Thomas said the City of Estevan has been excellent to work with. Land development services manager Richard Neufeld has been very helpful, and the company is trying to go through all of the proper procedures before opening.
