Handful of Saskatchewan pot stores open on legalization day

Recreational marijuana can now be legally sold across Canada and one of the first retail stores in Saskatchewan opened its doors near Pilot Butte.

Eden, just north of Highway 46 and west of Pilot Butte, is one of only seven of the 51 approved retail stores that planned to open on legalization day, according to SLGA.

A few dozen people were lined up outside the store which quickly filled with customers when the doors opened at 10 a.m.

“It’s rewarding to see how many people lined up and the look and the smile on their faces as each one walked into the store,” said owner Allen Kilback.

Customers cannot touch the product but can see and smell the various marijuana strains in sniffing jars. The strains fit into five categories: move, sleep, relax, create and laugh.

Eden received its supply of marijuana on Tuesday and Kilback expected it to last at least one week. The store’s online shop wasn’t up and running as of Wednesday morning but it’s expected to accept purchases by the weekend.

One of the first customers was Rob Schatz, who’s had chronic pain for the past 17 years.

He said he never thought he’d see legalization in his lifetime but voted for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for that reason only. While Eden can only legally sell weed for recreational purposes, it appears Schatz has found his medicine.

“Hopefully this will get me off my morphine and medication,” Schatz said.

Another customer, Ian Wright, said he’d been waiting for 40 years and called marijuana legalization “a long time coming.”

He joined several other customers, critical of the higher than black market prices.

“Prices are way out of wack,” Wright said. “They’re double, almost triple the prices.”

However, Wright appears faithful to the new system around legalized marijuana. He believes prices will come down over time and help eliminate the black market. Other customers said they don’t mind paying for the convenience as long as the revenue is put to good use.

Eden’s owner noticed some of his new customers were a little shy or “hush hush” about buying marijuana but opened up once he started a conversation.

“That’s why we’re here, to change the stigma. It’s just a new day and people got to get used to it,” Kilback said.

980 CJME spoke to a customer who didn’t want to be identified because of the stigma surrounding marijuana, specifically mentioning the older generation of people she works with.

“This is day one. By ten years from now this will be a different story,” she said.

Display cases don’t show marijuana but there are accessories like bongs, pipes, rolling paper, stash bags and body lotion. #LegalizationDay pic.twitter.com/2y2DQzlVcB

— Andrew Shepherd (@Andrew5hepherd) October 17, 2018

Eden owner Allen Kilback giving a pep talk to employees before opening. #LegalizationDay pic.twitter.com/PnLvmVOtW7

— Andrew Shepherd (@Andrew5hepherd) October 17, 2018

The store is pretty full and there’s still a line out the door. #LegalizationDay pic.twitter.com/7nIAM1ieoQ

— Andrew Shepherd (@Andrew5hepherd) October 17, 2018

According to the SLGA website, there were seven marijuana retail outlets ready to officially open across the province. One in Moose Jaw was not able to open Wednesday.

You can check out a map of all locations here.