The Government of Saskatchewan has announced who won the permit lottery for cannabis sales in Saskatchewan.
The successful proponents were selected through a two phase Request for Proposal process that began in March, explained a release by the Government of Saskatchewan. The first phase screened for qualifications, focused on financial and sales and inventory tracking systems. The second phase was a lottery draw to select the successful operators.
In Yorkton, that means two businesses received permits to set up shop. Fire and Flower Inc, a business operated by Alberta and Ontario-based entrepreneurs, and Synergy Five Investments LP, an investment company owned by five Saskatchewan First Nation organizations.
Because the businesses given permits were selected by lottery, that meant that a Yorkton-based operation did not actually get a permit to operate a store in Yorkton. Tweed Grasslands, Yorkton, owned by Canopy Growth Corporation, a federally licensed cannabis producer based in the city, did not get a local permit. Outside of Yorkton, however, they were granted five, in Fort Qu’appelle, Humboldt, Meadow Lake, Melville and the RM of Corman Park.
Andrew MacCorquodale with Canopy Growth Corporation said that nothing changes for their Yorkton operations based on the permit granting process. The operation here is a production facility, and will continue operating as planned, including planned expansion into hemp.
“The product grown in Yorkton will find its way into our supply chain and make its way into the retail stores.”
Given that for their own retail operations, the business plans to offer product beyond what they grow themselves, McCorquodale hopes that the businesses in town will buy the locally-sourced product.
“Those who did get a permit in Yorkton could certainly sell the product that is grown right there in Yorkton.”
The company applied in all 32 markets available to them, and they are excited to have been granted five permits across the province, MacCorquodale said.
“Saskatchewan is only the third province in Canada where we have the opportunity to do this. It’s exciting that we get to do it in the province and even more exciting that we get to do this five times over.”
On the retail side, the company is focused on becoming part of the communities in which they are allowed to operate.
“Our plan will be to get to work right away... Obviously also integrating well with the community, ensuring that we’re reachable and engaging with the community.”
