Esterhazy cannabis store set to open for legalization

With less than a week until marijuana is legal in Canada, the local owners of a pot shop in Esterhazy say they’re soaking up every moment.

“A lot of days it’s hard to believe. It’s just come so fast and now it’s already next week,” said Valli Kuzub, who co-owns Lush Leaf Cannabis with her husband.

“This is history in the making and we’re a part of it. It’s a pretty amazing opportunity.”

Right now, the owners are working on the final touches — stocking shelves, arranging products and organizing inventory — for opening Oct. 17.

Kuzub said staff is trained and educated on the products, which will include cannabis and related accessories.

“We’re trying to make the actual store feel comfortable and inviting,” she said. “It’s a beautiful space, so it’s nothing kind of (cold) or clinical.”

Kuzub, originally from Swift Current, moved with her husband to his hometown of Esterhazy 15 years ago.

She said while they’ve been interested in the pot business since legalization rumours first started, they’ve only ever had one location in mind.

“We have a family here, we’ve rooted here, so we thought we would try to represent it properly and do a good job of it,” she said.

Kuzub previously owned a day spa and later a vape shop in Esterhazy, located 220 kilometres east of Regina.

She said so far, community response to the cannabis store has been mostly positive.

“Of course there’s going to be a couple that have concerns, but we’re just trying to answer any questions they have and try to assure them we will be handling the business in a very unoffensive way,” she said.

Kuzub noted their cannabis supply is a little less than they wanted for opening day, but their licensed producers have said they’ll be ready to ship more product the week after.

Lush Leaf Cannabis is also set to take online orders shortly after the store opens.