Shelburne’s first retail cannabis shop opens Friday

April 29, 2021 · 0 Comments

The first retail cannabis store in the Town of Shelburne is set to open its doors this Friday (April 30).

“We’re pretty thankful to be opening, as a lot of other stores may not be in the same situation,” said Jamie Bates, in an interview with the Free Press. “It’s extremely exciting to see the project come from nothing, to being completed and now being able to serve our customers. That’s the biggest thing we’re looking forward to, building relationships with the local people and clientele.”

Jamie Bates and John Pavaovic, are co-owners of Cannabis Stop Inc., located at 171 Main Street in Shelburne’s downtown core. The duo have been working for over a year to bring the first retail cannabis shop to the community.

“Being in Shelburne the only other location for a legal cannabis dispensary was in either Collingwood, Hanover, or Brampton, quite a far drive if you’re trying to buy legal cannabis,” said Bates. “There was definitely a need in Shelburne,”

Being the first cannabis retail store in Shelburne, the duo say they are looking to create an experience that steps away from the negative stigma typically associated with cannabis, providing more than product but also knowledge as well.

“We want to bring the best cannabis retail experience to our customers from feeling welcomed when they meet our employees to bringing knowledge to them,” said Pavaovic.

“Whether people consume cannabis or any type of cannabis related products or not we welcome all to our store. People are welcome to come and check it out whether they’re purchasing or not, they can see what the experience is like and try to get away from the bad cannabis stigma,” said Bates.

Cannabis Stop Inc. is modelled around the concept of “locally owned, locally run”, with the majority of the employees or “budtenders” from Shelburne. As a resident of Shelburne Bates, tells the Free Press that the location of Cannabis Stop Inc., in the Town’s downtown core was an important decision for them.

“It’s definitely something that fits into the downtown core and as Shelburne starts to grow, we feel we’ll fit right in.”

When the store opens up on Friday it will be doing so through online orders and curbside pickup only due to COVID-19 restrictions. Despite the restrictions, Bates assures employees will be available at the door for customers with questions.

“We’ll be able to walk them through the menu at the door,” said Bates.

As its name would allude to, the new store will be selling a variety of cannabis products including beverages, extracts, dried flower, and CBD products which are non-psychoactive.

“There’s a very wide variety for every age and every person’s preference,” said Bates.

It is this variety that Bates adds brings a safe environment for cannabis purchasers.

“Everything is certified and passed by the government, every product that is sold through our stores is sent to us from the OCS (Ontario Cannabis Store); we can’t get product from the street and bring it in,” said Bates. “It’s all tracked whether it’s coming in or out of our store.”

Cannabis Stop Inc. will officially open on Friday (April 30). For more information visit www.cannabisstopinc.com.