A local business person hopes to lobby the Manitoba government to allow a fifth organization to sell recreational cannabis, with the intent of setting up shop in Flin Flon.
Spencer Payson, who operates Payson’s Smoke N’ Vape, appeared before council during its July 17 meeting to discuss his goal of operating a standalone store that sells cannabis in Flin Flon, and to ask council to consider requesting that the Government of Manitoba consider issuing licences to local operators.
In February, the provincial government announced four companies that would be approved to sell cannabis once it is legalized. Among them are Winnipeg-based Delta 9 Cannabis, National Access Cannabis, Tokyo Smoke, and a numbered corporation. Payson said he has connections to an organization that was not approved, but has been approved in another province.
“My ultimate goal is to operate a standalone, secure retail store selling cannabis in Flin Flon and to use profits from the local business to make investments into the broader community while ensuring that local concerns are fully and adequately addressed,” Payson told council.
Flin Flon city council gave first reading to Bylaw 2018-11 to provide for cannabis retail locations during its July 3 meeting. If the bylaw is passed, it will see a zone that extends from Church Street west to Main Street and from Churchill Avenue north to North Avenue rezoned to allow for recreational cannabis retail stores.
While Flin Flon is currently not on the list of cannabis retail locations in Manitoba, the city has been in contact with government departments and provincial distributors to make them aware that the city is interested in pursuing cannabis sales as an opportunity.
