A 23-year-old Saskatoon woman has never run a business before, but next month she’ll be one of the first in the province to enter the cannabis retail industry.
Cierra Sieben-Chuback, a recent graduate from the Edwards School of Business, won the draw to open one of Saskatoon’s seven cannabis retail locations after the drug is legalized.
After trying medical cannabis to treat her rheumatoid arthritis, Sieben-Chuback began working on a business plan for a medical marijuana dispensary for an entrepreneurship class. She adapted her plan from medical cannabis to recreational after the province put out a call for proposals.
“It was quite easy to make the transition from a medical marijuana dispensary to this recreational one,” Sieben-Chuback told CKOM’s Brent Loucks. “I did my best, filled out the application, and ended up getting my name drawn.”
She said winning the draw was like being handed the job of her dreams.
“This has never been about financial gain for me,” she said. “This has always just been kind of my dream job.”
Sieben-Chuback said her store will be located on Third Ave. S., in Saskatoon, and she’s already busy hiring staff and organizing suppliers.
With recreational cannabis set for legalization Oct. 17, Sieben-Chuback said she hopes everything will be ready in time for the big day.
Although she couldn’t yet say what the store’s hours would be, she said she intends to be open as much as possible.
“I plan on being open seven days a week,” she said. “I will be open as late as I can be.”
–With files from CKOM’s Brent Loucks.