A recreational cannabis store on Main Street is nearing the end of its licensing process and could be open for business by the end of the year. (File photo)
By Vanessa Broadbent
Osoyoos Times
Osoyoos residents could be ringing in the new year with recreational cannabis products bought in town if all goes according to plan for Jana Howardson, owner of Maple Leaf Greenery, a proposed downtown recreational cannabis store.
Howardson has rented the 8322 Main St. storefront since last October and town council granted first and second reading to the zoning amendment in December, allowing the province to move forward with completing background checks needed to obtain a licence.
In a letter to the Town of Osoyoos dated Aug. 26, the province stated that it has completed the eligibility and suitability requirements and a positive recommendation from local government was needed to finalize licensing.
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On Monday Osoyoos town council unanimously voted to give final approval to the store and grant the recommendation.
“It’s long and lengthy but I get it – it’s a new business,” Howardson said. “I was really hoping to be open for the summer because it’s going to be a long, cold winter and paying everybody.”
The provincial licensing, now with the required endorsement from the Town of Osoyoos, is expected to take about 30 days and includes a security inspection. Then Howardson can start setting up shop.
“Everything is all locked about six times the security of a liquor store because it’s new,” Howardson said. “There’s a safe storage room with a steel door, there’s a safe in there, all the cannabis products have to be in there at night, we have top-facing jewelry counters.”
When Maple Leaf Greenery opens its doors, Howardson plans to have about 30 different strains of cannabis for sale. Depending on regulations on cannabis infused products, which will take effect in October, the store may sell extracts, edible products and cannabis drinks as well.
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The store will also carry a range of CBD and medicinal cannabis products.
“There’s so much fear around cannabis and that’s what I want to concentrate on. You look now and you see Johnson and Johnson being sued for the opiods and all these things and there’s so many people that are really trying to get away from big pharma and they want something without a million side effects,” Howardson said.
About eight staff will work at the store, and it’s not yet decided what the hours of operation will be but provincial regulations allow for cannabis retail stores to open between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. every day.
Despite being a “long and crazy” process, Howardson noted both provincial and local governments have been positive and supportive throughout.
“The Town of Osoyoos has been great to deal with. They’re very forward moving for a small town, so I’m quite excited about the future and moving ahead.”
