Alderville – A marijuana dispensary appears to be the first of its kind in Northumberland County.
The store is called South Shore Wellness – Full Service Cannabis Dispensary and is located at 8987 on Hwy. 45 in Roseneath.
The store has been open for approximately two months at the location and after a recent visit by Northumberland Today, it seems business is flourishing.
It is located in an area where there is another store which would be for this type of product including a hydroponic store.
A selection of various types of marijuana, including oil, pot and even cookies are available. At the time of the visit by this newspaper, the cookies were nearly sold out.
A quick glance at the menu posted on a blackboard lists a number of items including names such as White Cookies, Critical Mass, Cherry Oil, Pheonix Tears, Green Crack, White Widow, and Grand Daddy.
Prices range, for Green Crack for example, from $15 for a gram to $260 for an ounce.
Alderville First Nation Chief Jim Bob Marsden said the store owner, who is not a band member, is renting the storefront from an Alderville band member.
Though they didnt need permission, the owner of the store did approach council, who then checked his credentials.
Hes fully legit and hes got another business in Toronto, Chief Marsden said.
In May and June, Toronto Police carried out Project Claudia which saw more than 90 people arrested and facing 186 charges as officers executed warrants at over 45 storefront locations.
At the south Shore Wellness location, when a person enters they are greeted and politely shown how to apply for an exemption with an Alderville Wellness Diagnosis Confirmation Form.
It is a two page form requiring information, including what conditions you may have been diagnosed with and currently require relief from.
Among the items listed to be checked off are, ADD/ADHD, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, back and neck problems, brain injury, Crohns disease, cancer, colitis, nausea, chronic pain, epilepsy, eating disorders, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal problems, hepatitis c, HIV/AIDS, irritable bowel syndrome, kidney failure/dialysis, migraines, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, muscle spasms, Parkinsons disease, post tramautic stress disorder, and sleep disorders.
Its perfectly legal, Chief Marsden said. He showed us his licence. We checked out his other business in Toronto and its a fully secured medical marijuana facility.
Chief Marsden, though, was unaware if the business in Toronto sells medical marijuana.
Though the Alderville First Nation does support medical marijuana, they draw the line at recreational selling from storefronts.
The recreation is going to be a whole different ball of wax, he said. For Alderville were doing a BCR (Band Council Resolution) against that type of business – recreation.
Medical side is different than storefronts coming into First Nation for recreation marijuana, the chief continued. Were against (recreation). We dont want a bunch of store fronts popping up in Alderville.
The resolution will be for a bylaw stating against the selling of recreational marijuana in Alderville.
But for the medical side of things, Chief Marsden and Alderville First Nation support it as theyve researched it and read testimonials.
A phone call expected from the owner of South Shore Wellness to comment about the store hadn’t been received at press time Wednesday.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker
Full Article: Marijuana Dispensary Open In Alderville
Author: Pete Fisher
Contact: 905-372-0131
Photo Credit: Pete Fisher
Website: Northumberland Today
