Third cannabis store proposal rejected by council, mayor only voted in favour

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The decision comes after Into The Weeds Cannabis approached council for a second time this year requesting a development permit. Penny’s Hair Design owner Penny Schooley had entered into a conditional sales agreement with the owners of the retailer to sell her property to them subject to the development permit going through.  

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Third cannabis store proposal rejected by council, mayor only voted in favour

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While council outright rejected the idea in April, they decided to move forward with a consultation process in August, in which the vast majority of feedback for allowing the project to go ahead was opposed.  

“I understand your need to go on to another chapter, but I think you know what’s coming, right?” Ruiz Arcand said to Schooley, who was in attendance.

“I cannot support a third cannabis store in La Ronge for the health of the community, the longevity of the community, the reputation of the community. I understand the business component; I totally get that, and I’m sorry, I won’t be supporting this.” 

Skilliter explained there is already a large addiction problem in the tri-communities, and he questioned if allowing a third cannabis store in La Ronge would be serving an already vulnerable population.  

“Cannabis use in our community is high,” he said.  

“One thing I’ve noticed is it’s become normalized where you can smell it everywhere and every event, everywhere there is any kind of gathering and yet people don’t even notice it anymore because it’s become so normalized.” 

McNeil noted she is supportive of going through the proper channel to reach a decision, such as allowing a public consultation process to proceed. 

“I had 15 people that had health concerns, and there were three supportive, and that’s just what I wanted to bring forward is that the feedback I’ve gotten in addition to what we are seeing here tonight,” she said.  

larongeNOW had previously asked Schooley what her plan would be if the development permit didn’t go through, and she said it would be a decision she would ponder if that time came.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com