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WATCH: New cannabis shop the latest sign of change for Leon Avenue

Retail store part of metamorphosis of downtown corridor

In the first year of legalisation, just a quarter of cannabis consumers were buying legal product.

But according to Statistics Canada, that number has soared to more than 40 per cent in just over three short years.

It’s indicators like this that give people like Kayleigh Donahue a sense the legal industry has reached a turning point.

“This is a time of maturing,” she told Kelowna10. Donahue is the vice president of business development and licencing for Kiaro Cannabis. She was on hand for the grand opening of the company’s downtown storefront near Leon Avenue. She’s also in the city for a large cannabis summit underway this week.

Changing face of Leon

And as odd as it may have once seemed, a shop vending cannabis is actually a welcome sign of change for the street and a hint at what is to come for the rapidly developing neighbourhood.

That evolution is exactly what drew Kiaro to select the spot near the corner of Leon and Pandosy Street.

“Lots of new development, mixed use, residential coming to this part of downtown. We really wanted to be a part of that,” she said. “Kiaro really wanted to be able to contribute to that positive change in this and really grow with Kelowna during this time.”

The storefront has popped up alongside a handful of new boutiques and local restaurants. Nearby on the corner of Water Street, an anchor of sorts for the corridor’s redevelopment is beginning to rise, the three-tower project introducing a splash of modernity to the avenue.

And cannabis is part of that modern lifestyle, Donahue said. Many people already integrate it with their active lifestyles. Swinging by the store on the way home and picking up some flower runs parallel with grabbing a drink after a workout. Storefronts, she said, play a key role in education and exploration.

Recent policy changes, she hopes, will only further breakdown barriers and attract more consumers to the legal market. For example, the federal government has recently implemented micro-processing and micro-cultivation licences, which Donahue said will help bring more legacy – and often local – growers into the legal fold.

“Having local options on the menu really helps connect consumers with the products that they are purchasing,” she said, noting Kiaro’s strive for place-based retail outlets.

Consumption spaces next big step in legalisation

Operating in a heavily regulated space has presented headwinds for the industry, but Donahue said great strides has been made. Though acknowledging the safety aspect, she said rules like covered storefronts and strict packaging guidelines can create an intimidating experience. But she said close ties between the industry and government is creating a more vibrant operating environment.

The next big step in that is cannabis consumption spaces. The provincial government is currently seeking feedback as it crafts regulations for these places.

She said Kiaro is excited to see the government at the consultation stage and believes there could be a lot of opportunity for retailers experienced in inventory management and who are already operating within the strict guidelines.

For consumers, she said consumption spaces would help deepen the experience and education.

“A consumption space will go that next step further,” she said, “where people are able to actually experience the cannabis products and ask questions throughout the experience ... and provide a safe environment in which to do so.”

Published 2022-04-20 by Tyler Marr

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