Sprucebuds Cannabis is set to become the second cannabis retailer in Meadow Lake. (sprucebuds)

By Elliott Knopp

Spruce Buds

City of Meadow Lake approves second cannabis retailer application

Nov 10, 2021 | 6:00 AM

The City of Meadow Lake has agreed to a zoning amendment bylaw and approved a discretionary use application that will make way for the city to welcome in just its second cannabis retailer.

During Monday’s council meeting, the City held a public hearing to gather feedback on allowing another cannabis outlet to operate in the community. At the hearing, two people spoke on the matter, one in favour of the move, and the other opposed.

Led by Mayor Merlin Seymour, the hearing began with an opening statement from Expansion Specialist Jason Keeling.

He spoke in favour of Spruce Buds, a Saskatchewan-based cannabis company, and their intention of supporting local workers while supplying products grown in the province.

“We’re really just local business people trying to have a bit of a Saskatchewan presence and provide some of those options today that aren’t available,” Keeling said.

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He added having a second retailer in the community would provide residents with more options to choose from and the ability to shop from a more localized retailer.

“Between the two, I actually think there’ll be some pretty good balance in terms of what customers have available, and I think it’ll actually work really well working together.”

One resident opposed to the business, Gerhard Engelbrecht, stated in a letter to council that the business posed a risk to the community’s safety.

He would later state in the public hearing that he believes there is more work that can be done to make the business sustainable.

“At the present time, I find the cannabis retailers are a clash between an illicit drug trade that the powers that be have not yet succeeded in eliminating entirely, and there is a need for dialogue concerning the actual taxation structure,” he said.

He claimed the high taxes on cannabis products makes the industry more susceptible to financial indiscretions, reinforcing his belief that the cannabis industry isn’t a sustainable business.

“The biggest thing to concern ourselves with initially is to see to it, with Ottawa involved, that this is made to be a retail venue that is reasonably profitable so there isn’t any fiscal pressure on the retailer’s to commit indiscretions in an attempt to keep it as profitable, and maybe, hopefully break even,” he said.

Granted an opportunity to respond to the statements against the move, Keeling highlighted the presence of a cannabis retailer already existing in the community.

He said the points made by Engelbrecht are against allowing cannabis companies in the community, which already have an established presence.

He further explained the retailers provide cannabis options which are regulated by both the Saskatchewan and Canadian governments, making the products safer than they would be on the black market.

Keeling also agreed while the tax on cannabis is quite significant, he believes the growth of the industry paired with the presence of multiple retailers in the community would allow for competition between businesses that could produce lower prices that would help cut out the black market.

“I’d rather buy from a legal source where there’s testing and legal standards applied to it versus an illegal source,” he said.

“I think with a little competition and some smart strategic sourcing through Saskatchewan distribution, we can bring the price down, and people can have a safe way to consume the product.”

Following the public hearing, council voted unanimously to allow the zoning amendment bylaw and the discretionary use application.

—
elliott.knopp@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @ElliottKnopp