Customers line up as city’s first pot shop opens
Not all of the 40 strains Pot Shack plans to sell available but more product coming
Minutes before the doors of the first licensed cannabis retailer in Saskatoon opened on Tuesday afternoon, the lineup of people waiting outside grew.
When The Pot Shack’s doors opened, customers streamed in as music videos played on small TV screens on the walls. Customers were limited to one cannabis item each, and no seeds or plants were available.
Overnight, a post had appeared on the shop’s Facebook page, announcing that the store would be open five days a weeks, six hours a day, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
An online announcement alerted Wayne Nataucappo, lives on the Fishing Lake First Nation and is visiting Saskatoon. He found the announcement while looking for information about licensed cannabis retailers in the city.
“It’s nice that it’s open and it’s actually convenient for people. They don’t have to go anywhere but to a store to buy what they want like anybody else,” he said.
A staff member at the front door scanned customers’ ID and product menus were laid out on tables for buyers to peruse before joining a growing, steadily moving line of people. Not all of the 40 strains The Pot Shack will sell were available on opening day. Owner Geoff Conn said he expects more shipments later in the week.
When he had a moment to stand still, he said he was “super excited” about the soft opening. A much bigger grand opening is expected within weeks, he added.
“Everything we’ve done is conceptual, so right now, we’re just watching it happen. Hopefully our concepts work, but we know we’re going to have to change around some things.”
The Pot Shack is one of seven licensed cannabis retailers in Saskatoon. In Regina, one licensed retailer is open so far. Limited supply has been blamed for the delayed store openings.