Brandon-based entepreneurs looking to operate pot shops eager to educate the public

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This article was published 30/12/2017 (2999 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

At least two Brandon-based entrepreneurs are among the more than 100 who submitted proposals to the provincial government to distribute and sell cannabis by next summer.

These two include the ownership of Brandon-based B.O.B. Headquarters and Growers n’ Smokers. Both aligned themselves with partners to tackle the request for proposal process.

It was quite the undertaking, B.O.B. Headquarters co-owner Robert Ritchot said, adding that their final document ended up filling out approximately 300 pages and costing those behind these pages many hours of sleep over the past several weeks.

B.O.B. Headquarters partnered with Tokyo Smoke, 4Front Advisors, Leo’s Group and Green Acre Capital in applying for one of four licences that are being offered during this initial round.

Of these four licences, two are being offered to companies that are able to open between three and 12 retail locations, and two are being offered to those able to open more than a dozen.

Ritchot said they’re looking at opening eight locations out of the gate, but they “have the financial backing to open up whatever’s necessary, pretty much.

“It’s got to be done responsibly and it’s got to be done so there’s no compromise in the integrity for each of these locations.”

Growers n’ Smokers owner Rick Macl partnered with an all-Manitoba group of companies and has applied for up to 12 locations.

Both local applicants said their shift into the retail cannabis industry would be accompanied by reaching out into the community to educate people and set the minds of those concerned about the process at ease.

“We don’t want the community to just tolerate our existence, we want them to acknowledge that it’s a great company and it’s something that we can be proud of,” Ritchot said, adding that everything they do would be in keeping with the underlying motivation behind legalizing cannabis, which is keeping it out of the hands of children and organized crime.

“That education component is going to be very, very needed,” Ritchot said. “There so much to know and understand.”

Macl said there’s a lot of misinformation on the internet that he has been helping customers navigate since opening up his head shop earlier this year.

While there’s an idea floating around that whomever opens a retail cannabis outlet would become rich, Macl said with the province supplying the product, a windfall of any significance isn’t terribly likely.

He said his motivation is doing things right, and that he looks forward to heading up continued efforts to educate people as to the proper use of cannabis and which strains best suite individual needs.

Ritchot said one of his team’s unique selling points is experience, having been in business for approximately 20 years, while Macl said his team carries an all-Manitoba edge.

According to a release from the provincial government earlier this week, officials are evaluating applications based on the criteria established in the request for proposals.

An independent fairness monitor has been appointed to ensure the integrity of the process. It’s expected that applicants will be notified by February, and are expected to enter into retail agreements in the spring.

In the release, Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Blaine Pedersen said the province remains “committed to establishing a highly competitive retail environment that creates new economic opportunities at the community level.”

» tclarke@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB