Nova Scotia dispensary owners say they aren’t about to throw in the towel yet and feel federal legislation has provided a way for them to co-exist alongside recreational retail stores.

READ: Judge grants HRM power to shut down Halifax cannabis dispensary

Chris Enns, owner of Farm Assists Medical Cannabis Resource Centre in Halifax, doesn’t plan to shut his doors before or after recreational marijuana is legalized on Oct. 17.

He says his dispensary serves only those with medical marijuana licenses and that even though Nova Scotia has opted to sell the soon-to-be legal drug through NSLC stores, he has reason to believe shops like his could stay in business going forward.

“We were very encouraged to see that the federal government has legislated a very specific class of dealers – those that will be allowed to sell to medical cannabis patients,” he said of the Federal Cannabis Act.

Story continues below advertisement

“But in effect, they’ve left it in the hands of the provinces with respect to how that will be rolled out.”

READ: Mi’kmaq community enlists Olympian Ross Rebagliati to challenge N.S. marijuana monopoly

Enns says the planned public retail model has a lack of access to specific types of cannabis used as medicine.

If he and other owners, who have now come together as the Nova Scotia Medicinal Association of Cannabis Dispensaries, had their way, they would bridge the gap in access they say will continue to exist post-legalization.

“Medical cannabis patients need to be able to access derivatives in many shapes and forms and those derivatives have simply not been legislated in the current distribution scheme,” he said. Tweet This

“If we’re going to make reasonable access available to those who are the sickest among us, then it’s incumbent upon the provinces to move forward in making legislation that will allow those current brick and mortar stores that are serving those that are medically licensed.”

Nova Scotia cannabis dispensary owners say they aren't going away any time soon. They plan to lobby the province to fill a "gap in access" for medical marijuana patients. pic.twitter.com/BAlZekBRP3 — Jeremy Keefe (@Jeremy_Keefe) June 29, 2018

Story continues below advertisement

Admittedly, getting the government to allow them to continue to exist won’t be an easy or quick argument.

Enns indicated they will lobby the province for the right to help medical users with their cannabis needs and become a legitimate organization in the eyes of the province and regulators.

WATCH: Medical marijuana advocate skeptical about recent police raids

1:56 Medical marijuana advocate skeptical about recent police raids Medical marijuana advocate skeptical about recent police raids

“Nearly 100 years ago when as a country we were moving away from alcohol, prohibition things were very tight at first and then we opened up the doors. Those that were licensed producers of alcohol were now able to sell that product directly to the consumer,” he said.

“It’s our simple hope that the Nova Scotia government will develop legislation to allow that to happen.”

Story continues below advertisement

The association plans to host a forum at the Halifax Public Library on July 3 at 7 p.m. They’ve invited MLAs and community members to attend and hear directly from them on the issues facing medical marijuana patients.

Follow @Jeremy_Keefe