The operator of a new medical dispensary in Squamish hopes that a partnership between local growers and storefronts will lead by example with standards and best practices that will guide the industry.
Don Fauchon is the chairman of Cannabis Growers of Canada and co-operator of Grass Roots Medicinal, which he said plans to open tomorrow in the B.C. town. Fauchon said the experience of opening the business has been an interesting learning experience, but he’s excited by the positive feedback from the community.
“They’re really happy we’re here and looking forward to us opening,” Fauchon said. “We just hope to provide the patients with the best quality product that we can and make them comfortable when they’re in here.”
Fauchon said it’s the community that is most important, keeping jobs and money from the operation in town to support the town’s economy, with a focus on using local growers.
“That’s where we need to get our product to keep the jobs and the income in the local communities so it can keep supporting them like they always have, for years, and years and years now,” he said. “The growers in each little community are the ones that are supplying the best product, because we can’t get anything decent out of the LPs — that we’ve seen so far.”
The dispensary operates under best practices created by CGC, and Fauchon said any product sold at the store will have to do the same, using their production and testing standards to ensure quality.
“If you want to come in and have us take a look at your products, then you’ll have to be a member of the Growers,” Fauchon said.
Since starting the CGC over two years ago, Fauchon said the group is now ahead of the curve in developing best-practices that he expects the industry to eventually need as legalization moves forward.
“We want to set up a national association that people join and then, when a patient comes in or when we get to recreation, and they see our seal on it they know that they don’t have to worry about the product,” he said. “Just like doctors have their association and engineers and accountants — we’d like to be the one for cannabis.
“It has to be done, because the government’s going to require it.”
As the industry matures, Fauchon said it’s important that small and medium size operations are allowed to continue in business and not be pushed out by large corporate organizations.
“The big key is that the cash stays in the local communities to support the local communities,” he said. “We fought for years to build this industry up and we can’t let someone take it away from us now.”
With the Liberals now required by court order to create a new framework for medical cannabis, as well as currently crafting regulations for the recreational market, Fauchon said those already in the industry need to have their voices heard.
“It’s very important so that we can prove to local governments ‘here’s the amount of jobs and here’s the amount of money that’s coming into the local community.’ You take it out of here and lot of these small communities all across Canada are going to suffer.”
With less than a day before opening, Fauchon said he’s anticipating strong support as the hours count down.
“We’re a little bit nervous, that’s the nature of the business, but we’re extremely excited to get open as soon as possible.”