By Derek Cornet

Town Council discusses partnering with LLRIB on pot shop

Jan 11, 2018 | 4:00 PM

Working with the local First Nation on cannabis sales was debated at the regular La Ronge town council meeting Jan. 10.

With both the town and the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) granted eligibility for marijuana retail permits, Coun. Jordan McPhail said it would make sense for the two governments to work together rather than competing against each other. McPhail said he’d like to see a store built along La Ronge Avenue where it would bring more traffic to the area, and noted the band already has access to reserve land downtown. 

With the sale of marijuana expected to be tax-free on reserves for those with a valid Indian Status card, McPhail acknowledged there could be room in the region for two stores. He noted no announcement has been made yet about limits on tax-free cannabis, which could complicate the issue.

“That would be something that would also come into play as this rolls out,” he said. “Will there will a limit that’s tax exempt?”

Another councillor who suggested there would be enough customers to justify two stores was Dallas Everest. He said those who can receive a tax rebate will likely shop at the LLRIB store, like they do with tobacco products, while those who don’t receive the tax excemption will go elsewhere. 

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“It’s like saying two convenience stores,” Everest said. “It might not be too bad because [the LLRIB] has the land right beside the old drugstore.”

La Ronge chief administrative officer Stephen Conway recommended council complete a number of steps as legalization approaches. He suggested arranging a meeting with the band to discuss the topic further, as well as asking at the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association how the province plans on spending cannabis tax revenue. 

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno