The notion of Outlook getting a cannabis store would鈥檝e likely been laughed out of the room as little as a few years ago.聽 But the times, they are a鈥檆hangin鈥�, and it鈥檚 something that has been positively embraced since that idea turned into a brick and mortar storefront on Franklin Street.
One Eye鈥檚 Weedery opened up shop on January 7, less than a week into the new year.聽 Under the guidance of general manager Eddy Spigott, any of the store鈥檚 four 鈥榖udtenders鈥� 鈥� Jason Boulton, Annie Flemstrom, Carol Paulsen and Lane Britnell 鈥� are there to help you with any questions and fulfilling your requests and desires.
In the short time since opening, the store has seen products such as edibles show their popularity in the community, and they鈥檙e on tap to have new ones such as sparkling drinks in stock soon.聽 January saw something of an 鈥榠ntroduction period鈥� to the new market, while business in February started to pick up steam.
Eddy says that so far, it鈥檚 been good vibes as far as community relations go.
鈥淭here鈥檚 been a positive reception from the community,鈥� he said, sitting down in the store with The Outlook.聽 鈥淚 know my dad Brian said at town council that it鈥檚 another reason for people not to go to Saskatoon, but we鈥檝e heard that very line.聽 鈥業鈥檓 just thankful I don鈥檛 have to go鈥�, you know?聽 It鈥檚 people coming from Lucky Lake, Milden, Kenaston and just the surrounding area.鈥�
It wouldn鈥檛 take someone from the Outlook area very long to realize who the inspiration is behind the store鈥檚 name.聽 Spigott鈥檚 explanation is really quite simple 鈥� keep it in the family.
鈥淟ots of people comment on the name,鈥� Eddy smiled.聽 鈥淏rian鈥檚 nickname is 鈥極ne-Eye鈥�, and we were spit-balling some names and ideas and we wanted to come up with something that is personal.聽 He鈥檚 been in the community his entire life and my grandpa was here before him, and now I have a son, so we鈥檙e fifth-generation in the community, so we wanted to do something that people would recognize.鈥�
The public perception has been largely positive from what Eddy has experienced, and he鈥檚 perfectly fine with people being unaccepting of the cannabis lifestyle if it鈥檚 simply not for them.
鈥淔or the most part, people have been positive,鈥� he said.聽 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 personally encountered anybody who鈥檚 upset that we鈥檙e here and I don鈥檛 believe any of my staff have either.聽 The overall reception has been positive.聽 As far as I can tell, the people who are against it aren鈥檛 for legalization, and I think they鈥檙e of the mindset that, 鈥業t鈥檚 okay if other people do it, but we鈥檙e not going to be involved with it鈥� and that鈥檚 fine.聽 Some people don鈥檛 drink, right?聽 We鈥檙e actually super happy with the reception from the community so far.鈥�
What Spigott hopes people might remember to do is keep an open mind about the products that his store sells.
鈥淚 think people need to keep an open mind,鈥� he said.聽 鈥淎lcohol was once prohibited as well.聽 Lots of things have been prohibited and legalized and also reversed.聽 There was once a time that lots of things that are illegal now were once prescribed as medicine!聽 I鈥檓 not saying that this should be prescribed as medicine, but we have a lot of people who come in here and see positive effects, whether it鈥檚 mentally or physically.聽 If it helps them and everybody鈥檚 consuming responsibly, then I don鈥檛 see any negative aspects of it.聽 I鈥檒l also say that since legalization, the number of minors under the age of 17 who use cannabis has decreased. 聽This is backed up by Stats Canada.鈥�
There have been countless health articles written about the positive effects of CBD oils and extracts.聽 Spigott says people walking into the store have a vested interest in the product鈥檚 possibilities, and while they鈥檙e not doctors who can prescribe anything officially, staff encourage people to ask questions about their products.
鈥淟ots of people are interested in CBD oil,鈥� said Eddy.聽 鈥淲e鈥檙e not physicians, so we can鈥檛 come right out and say, 鈥榊ou鈥檝e got arthritis and this is going to cure your arthritis鈥�, but lots of people come in and say they鈥檝e got issues with sleeping or anxiety, and there are a variety of delivery methods such as putting it in their tea, squirting it in their mouth, or even the sprays, and we have gel caps as well.聽 People seem to be interested in it and its effects.聽 As well, we鈥檙e going to be having some education seminars we鈥檙e going to be putting on where people can have the chance to ask questions in an intimate environment.鈥�
One-Eye鈥檚 is still very much a newcomer in the market, as well as in Outlook鈥檚 business district, but Eddy says they鈥檙e here to fill a void.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very early in the market right now and we鈥檙e (Canada) only a year in or so,鈥� he said.聽 鈥淲e鈥檝e only been open for just under two months, but the support in the community has been great thus far, so I think that demonstrates a need for someone to fill this void.聽 As with any small business, you have to wake up everyday and answer your customers鈥� demands or requests, and we鈥檙e trying to do that.鈥�
For those interested, the store is gearing up to hold a special grand opening celebration on Friday, March 13 that promises to be a very welcoming and laid-back atmosphere.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got some games that we鈥檙e going to be playing that鈥檒l have promotional effects with them,鈥� said Eddy.聽 鈥淲e鈥檒l have some reps from some suppliers here and promotions on all the products in the store throughout various times of the day, and we鈥檙e also going to be giving away a Volcano vaporizer, which has a retail value of about $1000.聽 Come in, buy something and you鈥檒l have a chance to enter your name for that.聽 I think we鈥檙e going to have a fun day; good music, good games, good vibes, and good sales.鈥�
For more info on One-Eye鈥檚 Weedery, you can hit up their Facebook page or log on to www.oneeyesweedery.com.
