(L to R) Chief Mark Fox, Councillor Marilyn Kaiswatum, Councillor Everet Sayer and Councillor Crystal Crowe help cut a ribbon during the Piapot First Nations grand opening of their Cannabis store on Angus street on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 in Regina. KAYLE NEIS / Regina Leader-Post
While Reginans have certainly noticed the number of cannabis stores operating in the city, what makes the city’s newest weed shop different isn’t necessarily visible to passing eyes.
Yes, it is currently operating out of a modular office. But Miyo Askiy Cannabis Co., which celebrated a grand opening Wednesday, is owned by Piapot First Nation and governed by its own regulations.
Located at 1101 Angus Street, next to Cree Land Mini Mart, the site is considered Piapot Urban Reserve land in the city. There are plans to construct a permanent building in the near future.
The store is licensed to operate under the Piapot First Nation Cannabis Act, and will comply with the Piapot First Nation Cannabis Regulations, which meet or exceed provincial and federal cannabis regulations, according to a press release.
Peter Flaman, businesses adviser with Piapot First Nation, said things have been going “fantastic” since Miyo Askiy opened its doors for the first time July 6.“Fifteen per cent from every sale goes back to the community, so that’s huge,” he said.
“Initiatives for the youth, stuff like that, this barbecue for the people around here. That’s what we’re trying to build here.”
The event included food, drumming and singing and a ribbon cutting.
While there are already more than 30 cannabis stores operating in Regina, with at least one recently closing, Flaman said Miyo Askiy plans to stay competitive in a saturated market with daily specials and lower prices.
“You can see that we’re running a lot cheaper store than some of the other brick and mortars. Our staff is either all from Piapot First Nation or (other) First Nations,” Flaman said.
“We just have a business model that we think is really going to work.”
The business will employ eight full-time workers and three part-time workers and will create extra revenue for the First Nation.
Dancing Young Buffalo drum group
The Dancing Young Buffalo drum group from Piapot perform during the Piapot First Nations grand opening of their Cannabis store on Angus street on Wednesday, July 19.
While the province introduced legislation to give greater autonomy to First Nations for on-reserve enforcement of marijuana and bylaws in December 2022, at least one First Nation in the pot business said it was unnecessary.
“We have our own laws and bylaws,” Chief Lynn Acoose, of Zagime (Sakimay) Anishinabeck, said at the time. Her First Nation has operated a cannabis retail location near Regina since 2019 and has sold, administered and regulated bylaws and policy pertaining to the sale of the substance since.The province’s two amendments — The Cannabis Control (Saskatchewan) Amendment Act, 2022 and The Summary Offences Procedure Amendment Act, 2022 — allowed for a bevy of changes.
First Nations are subject to existing provincial and federal legislation to establish a local cannabis authority. Stores conforming with these regulations administered and enforced on-reserve are able to purchase from federally-regulated cannabis producers.
“Our government supports First Nations exercising their authority over on-reserve distribution and retailing of cannabis through a legal framework with SLGA,” said Lori Carr, Minister responsible for SLGA, in a press release in December.
Carr said this change was something “the First Nations were asking for.” The added benefit, to Carr, was that First Nations would be able to get products from federal sellers to ensure their supply is safe and regulated.
H/T: leaderpost.com
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