Lacombe residents can no purchase cannabis from a dispensary in their very own community if they choose too.
Fuzzy Budz, one of four soon-to-be-open dispensaries in the city, recently held a grand opening after waiting almost an entire year.
Annalisa Sherman, co-owner of Fuzzy Budz, said they have been waiting a long time and is excited to offer something a little different than what is seen in other communities.
“We are not an Apple Store — we are more about the cozy, comfortable, rustic look,” she said.
Not being able to operate for a year did give Sherman and her team time to follow the market — with pricing being one of their biggest surprises.
“The pricing is a bit of a concern but I do understand it now,” she said.
Currently, there are three cannabis recreational dispensaries in Red Deer meaning there will be more competition in Lacombe with four shops opening in short order.
“I would have preferred a radius of at least 100 m. But I do want to meet all of these people. We can all be successful and I do want that for Lacombe. Lacombe needs businesses,” Sherman said.
Sherman is also excited to offer a female perspective in the industry
“I’m going to be teaching and training in order to help women open up to cannabis,” she said.
Sherman said the local business community have been very open to their business so far.
“The owner of Heartland asked me if it was going to smell and I told him no and Sweet Capone’s people seem excited. I feel very welcomed,” Sherman said.
Sherman said the next big test for the industry will be when edibles and drinks became legal later this year.
“I am excited and it is going to be a different market. I feel it will be good for older people because this gives them an opportunity to try things. We will see how it goes, I think people will enjoy the edibles and they will have drinks too,” she said.
She added, “I am very nervous-excited. It has been a long-time coming and I actually left a job at Canada Post to do this. It has been my dream.”
todd.vaughan@lacombeexpress.com
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