A local strip mall has been approved as the site of Humboldt’s first legal cannabis retail store.
Council voted in favour of allowing Canopy Growth Corporation to locate their store at Humboldt Commons at their meeting Nov. 13. Two councillors, Michael Behiel and Sandy Weyland, were opposed.
“At this point, it’s not that I don’t support opening a cannabis store, I just really don’t agree with the location,” Weyland said. “I just feel in a mall with a bunch of family shopping stores, it wasn’t the place I envisioned it. I envisioned it in a little more discreet location.”
Other members of council supported the location because of its public, high traffic nature, combined with the fact that federal legislation requires the store be set up in a manner that youth can’t look inside and see the product being sold.
“I’d rather have people buying somewhere where it can be policed and where it can be looked at rather than the back of somewhere or from somebody in the back alley,” Rob Muench, Humboldt’s mayor, told council.
Weyland said youth would be able to figure out what’s being sold in the store sooner or later.
“That will be an opportunity for us to have some conversation with our youth as to whether that is something they should be involved in or not,” Coun. Lorne Pratchler said.
Behiel told council after talking with a former drug dealer, he’s concerned that cannabis use could lead consumers to use other drugs.
“I’ve seen firsthand what it’s done to people who’ve been addicted, I’ve seen people die because of it, I just can’t support it – and not just the location – overall, regardless if it’s legal or not.”
Coun. Roger Nordick said council should put its focus elsewhere when it comes to trying to prevent drug use.
“I would think that our responsibility as a municipality comes down to assisting and aiding wherever we can in the education portion of drug use,” adding cannabis is one of many drugs out there.
After the meeting, Muench told media that it’s important to remember the sale of cannabis is something that’s been determined legal by the federal government.
“We have to do our best, as a municipality, to make sure it follows our bylaws and look at it from the point of view that it's happening in other jurisdictions and if they’re not going to get it from here, they’re going to get it from somewhere else.”
During the meeting, there was a public hearing where members of the public could speak. No one did so, but six did send letters in advance. Three were opposed to the location, two were opposed to any cannabis store in Humboldt and one was in favour of the proposal.
If all goes according to plan for Canopy Growth Corporation, the store could open as early as late January.
