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This article was published 6/3/2019 (566 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Garden Variety, the only provincially approved cannabis store operator in Manitoba that hasn't yet opened a store, plans to open two licensed cannabis outlets in Winnipeg by the end of next week.

One is scheduled to launch March 14 at 1424 Ellice Ave., and the second is slated to open the following day at 655 Sterling Lyon Pkwy.

The company had good reasons to take its time after last fall's legalization before opening for business, said regional manager Sheilagh Dohie.

"We wanted to watch the market, learn, build out with intention and come at it in the new year," she said.

"It's enabled us to be very selective around the talent that we have brought on... and really build out a team that we wanted to have, that would create a different experience, provide an excellent vibe, connect some cannabis connoisseurs to our brand."

Together, the two stores will employ 60 full- and part-time workers, said Dohie, who described the employees as a diverse bunch from a wide variety of backgrounds.

"I think we're reaching out; we want people to feel comfortable in this industry, break down a little bit of (stigma) and feel comfortable with the associates they're going to meet in our environment," she said.

A rendering of a Garden Variety cannabis store. (Supplied)

"We have a beautiful store design.... It's warm, it's inviting, we've got woodgrain, we've got colour. Just a very comfortable experience that's easy on the eyes and will relax people in the space."

At least one other licensed cannabis retailer, Delta 9 Cannabis, has delayed opening new locations in recent months, citing a lack of available inventory.

"We believe we have an excellent supply right now," Dohie said.

"The consumer will drive that for us, the variation of business volume that we get when we open those doors will be very telling for us. But we feel very proud of the volume that we have for opening day."

If the new stores open as planned, they'll bring Winnipeg's total number of licensed marijuana stores to an even dozen. Eight other licensed stores are currently operating elsewhere in Manitoba; Garden Variety plans to open locations in Thompson and Brandon later this year.

Originally known as 10552763 Canada Corp., Garden Variety is a partnership between five different entities, including the Fisher River Cree Nation in Manitoba and the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation in Ontario.

The remaining partners are Ontario-based Avana Canada Inc., which holds a Health Canada licence to grow cannabis, MediPharm Labs Inc., which is also based in Ontario and holds a Health Canada licence to process cannabis and Native Roots Dispensary, a chain of marijuana stores based in Colorado.

solomon.israel@freepress.mb.ca

@sol_israel