Alberta has lifted its moratorium on accepting new cannabis retail applications and a Jasper cannabis store is now licensed and ready to roll.

For months, Fleur Cannabis Boutique has been waiting patiently for the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission to lift its embargo on new marijuana retailers—a move the province made when it was determined there wasn’t enough product to go around. So when owner Jenna McGrath received the news this morning (May 30) that her store would be one of the first five stores across Alberta to be issued licenses, she was thrilled. 

“It’s been an exciting day,” McGrath said.

And it’s been a long time coming. McGrath had her application in as early as last June, preparing her store with the hope of opening on October 18, the legalization date set by the federal government. She transformed her wellness studio to accommodate a separate retail outlet, building the space to meet strict security codes and going through the AGLC’s rigorous application process. The whole ordeal left her financially vulnerable, she said.

“They make you take certain risks in order to comply,” she said.

While her business spent tens of thousands of dollars on the licensing process, McGrath said her costs were small in comparison to many would-be retailers who have been renovating and leasing much larger spaces all over Alberta. In November, after months of battling bureaucracy, another Jasper ganja-preneur decided to sell her budding business to Spirit Leaf, out of Calgary.

“With even more hurdles ahead … we made the decision to sell,” said Leanne Stanko in November, who had a vision of opening Harvest Moon on Patricia Street. 

Over on Connaught Drive, Fleur had plenty of outside offers, too. However, those pressures to sell the business only gave McGrath more motivation to take the long view.

“We thought it was going to be worth it in the end.”

Now that she’s licensed, McGrath is confident that the wait will be worth it. Her business model will build on her profession as a healthcare worker (she is a registered massage therapist, yoga instructor and doula) and view cannabis use through a holistic lens, she said.

“Our herbal guides will be able to offer really intimate advice and guidance through selecting products that are right for people,” she said. 

McGrath expects that Fleur will be able to start ordering product by next week; she hopes to open by the middle of June. Updates will be available via Fleur’s social media.

Should the stability of inventory take a drastic downturn, the AGLC has said it will evaluate reinstating the moratorium.

Bob Covey // https://bob@thejasperlocal.com