Cannabis retailers camped at City Hall for permit applications

Mandrusiak, who owns several Red Deer and area KFC locations, anticipates the industry’s potential to grow massively.

“To start-off with, it’s only for smoking as set by the federal government,” he explains. “But 2019, they’re talking into edibles and different derivatives and things like that possibly becoming available in 2019. So it’s starting out small but the option and opportunity and selection for consumers is just going to grow in the future.”

He says step one in the process has been finding the right location, followed very quickly by filling out a lengthy application with AGLC and going through their process.

“The final step, if you want to call it, is with the City of Red Deer and beginning the development permit process, followed by the business permit and its license, ” adds Mandrusiak. “Even at this time, we’re still continuing our work with AGLC, so it’s not a quick process, it’s long and can be arduous at times but they’re definitely doing their work to control this industry and prevent any black market infiltration as much as possible for sure.”

Mandrusiak says the location he has picked out is in north Red Deer in a building on Phelan Street. He says he plans to start work his store as soon as the permits are in place and be open for when recreational marijuana becomes legal in Canada on Oct. 17.

Just 35 cannabis retail licenses will be available in Red Deer. For more information on the City’s cannabis retail permit application process, click here.

by Sheldon Spackman

Cannabis retailers camped at City Hall for permit applications

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