Calgarians are getting a better idea of where they’ll be able to purchase recreational marijuana, whether at a dedicated dispensary or perhaps under the roof of a supermarket.
And based on the addresses released by the City of Calgary, it looks like you might just be able to pick up cannabis while out grocery shopping at major grocery stores around the city.
Eleven Calgary Co-op locations, including one gas station, received approvals to sell cannabis. Addresses matching seven Real Canadian Superstores also got approval.
Both grocery-store chains had previously stated intentions to apply to sell cannabis at their locations.
In an emailed statement to Global News, Superstore parent company Loblaw said, “As an established retailer with a secure supply chain and decades of experience selling controlled products, including alcohol and tobacco, we believe there may be very select opportunities for our stores to sell recreational cannabis.”
Loblaw declined to discuss details about any specific supermarket across the country, but did note, “some markets’ applications have been made for our company or third parties to sell recreational cannabis in our stores or on our properties.”
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All of the cannabis store development permits approved to the Superstore addresses are issued to individuals linked to Toronto- and Kelowna-based Hiku Brands and Tokyo Smoke, owned by Hiku Brands.
Hiku VP of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Will Stewart also declined to discuss any specific locations in Calgary but did acknowledge ongoing preparations for the Oct. 17 legalization date.
“We’re speaking with a lot of landowners right now, but have nothing definitive set in stone yet.”
The cannabis store permit for Tokyo Smoke’s flagship location in Calgary’s Beltline was declined by the city and currently operates as a coffee shop.
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Four notable malls in Calgary will be getting dispensaries: Chinook Centre, Southcentre Mall, Deerfoot City Mall and Midnapore Mall. A yet-to-be-constructed retail centre in the new Legacy community in the city’s southeast also received an approval for a cannabis store.
Three Second Cup locations got approvals and will be part of the National Access Cannabis network of dispensaries.
The historic Palace Theatre on Stephen Avenue also received an approval to open a cannabis store, partnering with Westleaf.
As of Tuesday, August 14, 201 decisions have been made on 258 applications — 102 applications have been approved and 24 are in an appeals process.
You can see a map of the approved locations below.
In reviewing the applications, the city looks for compliance with land-use bylaws, concentrations of stores within the neighbourhood, conformity to separation distance requirements, comments from the public and “overall compatibility with the community in which it is proposed.”
The City of Calgary said that as of August 10, all 187 of the April applications have been reviewed, and further applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
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