
Kingston business loses in the cannabis retail lottery for a second time
“They need to get rid of this lottery system and just start approving stores that are ready, because we’ve been ready for inspection since January,” says McLean.
“They need to get rid of this lottery system and just start approving stores that are ready, because we’ve been ready for inspection since January,” says McLean.
Ontario also unveiled the next phase of cannabis retail operations, opening up the market even more. The cap of 25 brick and mortar stores in Ontario will be raised.
Despite being No. 652 on the waiting list, 420 Kingston owner Jennawae McLean said she is optimistic that her company will eventually get a licence to sell cannabis.
“And from what we can tell, the people who have won for the eastern region are not from Kingston.”
-Jennawae McLean
“Definitely by having good variety, which means supply needs to be worked on, by having good price points and by having a very high quality of cannabis,” McLean said Wednesday morning, shortly after city council’s midnight vote.
“For it to pass unanimously is the best way this night could have ended,” McLean said, nearly breaking out into tears of joy after council voted.
Owner of head shop 420 Kingston Jennawae McLean is hopeful her application will be chosen, since she’s been renovating a large cannabis retail space for several months she’s named Calyx and Trichomes.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario will be accepting expression of interest applications come next week. The lottery system will be used to help select 25 possible applicants and a wait list.
“Are we surprised by the content of the announcement? No,” Jennawae McLean said. “We have been calling this since legalization was announced that there would be a shortage of cannabis.”
“I think that it will be a good way to get the temperature of the city. Kingston is a liberal city. We’ve done great business in the Kingston area for the last eight years and I know that there are a lot of Kingston-area residents that would enthusiastically respond to the survey and let Kingston know that they’re in favour of having legal retail sales here.”
For Jennawae McLean, co-owner of pot paraphernalia shop, 420 Kingston, Ontario, she said it’s unlikely she will be attempting to cross the border anytime soon.
With the legalization of marijuana kicking in at 12:01 am Wednesday, residents across Ontario will be able to order pot online. Along with this, they can also start growing legal plants in their home.
Ca·lyx [ˈkāliks]:
A protective layer
that forms over
the developing flower.
Tri·chomes [ˈtrīkōmz] :
Resin that forms
a protective barrier
on cannabis and
contains terpenes
and cannabinoids
like THC and CBD.