By Derek Cornet

Aura Cannabis committed to working with community

Jun 18, 2018 | 12:00 PM

Aura Cannabis will not open a retail location in La Ronge until the community is ready.

“That’s our commitment, and whenever legalization is, whether it’s this summer or early fall, it’s really when the community is ready is when we’ll proceed,” Aura Vice-President Andrew Gordon said at last week’s town council meeting.

British Columbia-based Aura Cannabis was the successful applicant for two permits to open retail cannabis stores in Saskatchewan, one in La Ronge and another in Saskatoon. The company is now in the midst of a 45-day permitting process, which includes working with the municipalities to ensure it is following local bylaws.

Gordon showed council conceptual drawings of what the retail location could look like. He said the company wants to provide service in a modern context to help destigmatize marijuana and to help educate the public about the benefits of the drug. The store will likely employ five to 12 people once everything is up and running, he said.

“We’re not coming in here just as retailers; cannabis is so much more,” Gordon said. “When you look at the community impact of cannabis statistically in legal markets down south, you see a tremendous amount of positive effect.”

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Gordon said he plans to return to La Ronge in July to engage further with the community, and also hopes to host a job fair before the location opens.

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno