Sask. pot shops prep ahead of legalization

With marijuana legalization less than a month away, Saskatchewan pot shops are in strikingly different states of preparedness.

In Regina, the Uhersky family is just getting into their new storefront inside a strip mall at 4554 South Albert.

“We just got our keys, so we’ll be starting construction tomorrow probably,” part-owner Landyn Uhersky said Tuesday.

“Excited, a little overwhelmed. There’s a lot to do in a month, given that the bylaw has just been passed.”

The City of Regina approved zoning rules for pot shops on Aug. 28, less than two months before recreational marijuana will be legal Oct. 17.

“The city has been slow with getting their bylaws passed, but they’ve been good to working with us so far,” said Landyn’s brother, and fellow owner, Danny Uhersky.

Landyn told 980 CJME the family, all of whom are equal shareholders, have been working on the business since the permit announcement Jan. 1.

The Uhersky’s were at Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina Tuesday to discuss budding business opportunities for cannabis with around 80 young entrepreneurs. The pair was joined by fellow Regina native and pot shop businessman David Thomas.

“We just want to facilitate an opportunity for some the community to ask some questions they have of the new industry,” Thomas said.

“People just don’t know what to expect, they’re excited. they want to know what a store looks like, what a store feels like.”

Thomas is the co-founder of Jimmy’s Cannabis Shop, the rebrand of Prairie Sky, which will have locations in Battleford, Martensville, Moosomin and Estevan. The company will also sell across the province online.

He explained Jimmy’s Cannabis Stores will all have the same look and feel, and added the overall aim is to create a welcoming space.

“We want to be able to reach out to everybody interested in cannabis — both the newbies and the daily smokers,” he said.

“We’re embracing the challenge and really trying to represent our Saskatchewan roots and a home-grown feel of a store.”

Thomas said right now, the company is on track to open “two to three” of the retail locations in time for legalization.