A Choom cannabis store has passed its final hurdle to opening next month in Niagara Falls.

On Friday, the Vancouver-based company was issued its retail store licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), clearing the way to officially open sometime in May.

Construction has been ongoing at the Niagara Square site for several weeks. Despite a requirement by the Ontario government to have all approved cannabis retail stores open April 1 — or face a $12,500 fine — Choom's Niagara Falls store opted to delay its opening.

Choom president and CEO Chris Bogart explained "we're opting for quality, because it's a marathon, not a race," earlier this month to The Standard. "We're really taking our time to make sure we build the experiential consumer retail experience we want to provide the community."

It is still unclear what date the store will open. Bogart did not return messages left by The Review Monday.

Niagara's first cannabis retail store, The Niagara Herbalist in St. Catharines, opened April 1.

Choom will operate the site with Toronto businesswoman Lisa Bigioni, who was one of 25 retailers selected through a government lottery. About half managed to open by the April 1 deadline.

As a licensed operator, Bigioni can now order and receive cannabis product and accessories ahead of the store opening for business. AGCO said it will conduct a pre-opening inspection before the doors open to the public.

Choom — inspired by Hawaii's weed-smoking 'Choom Gang' during the 1970s — has plans to open dozens of cannabis retail shops, mainly in Western Canada. The Niagara Falls location will be its first.

with files from Alan Benner

John.Law@niagaradailies.com

905-225-1644 | @JohnLawMedia

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