The newest Star Buds Cannabis Co. location had its grand opening Friday, adding to a growing chain that now has seven locations in Simcoe County, including three right here in Barrie.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place this morning at 477 Grove St. E., with staff and Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MP Doug Shipley on hand for the occasion.
Star Buds opened its first Ontario store in June 2020 at St. Vincent and Livingstone streets in Barrie and has expanded into seven outlets in 14 months, employing 57 people. They also have a local store on Huronia Road in the city's south end, plus shops in Angus, Innisfil, Bradford, and Wasaga Beach.
Star Buds manager Ryan Orr says he's most proud of the job opportunities the company has provided in these uncertain times.
“During a pandemic, being able to grow like that, I think, is a pretty impressive feat,” Orr told BarrieToday. “So many other businesses have not been as fortunate as we have and we do know that this industry is thriving, so we are very lucky.”
Recreational cannabis was legalized in Canada on Oct. 17, 2018, followed by edibles, extracts and topicals the following year.
Since then, there has seen a gradual acceptance as stores open up in neighbourhoods around the city and abroad.
The Grove Street store is located in one of Barrie’s more established neighbourhoods — the east end — and one might expect a hesitancy or pushback from residents there.
But Orr says that wasn’t the case at all.
“It's been nothing but positive from the community, which is so great. We’re in our third year of legalization and I think a lot of the stigma that came with cannabis has gone away,” Orr said. “There may be some, but not at all like there was.”
Orr credits the amount of products people can get from the store as one of the reasons why people are opening their minds to cannabis.
“It's not just the flower. It's the oils, CBD products, the edibles and chocolates, and even our drinks. There are just so many options for everyone and I think that has helped with the stigma of people who use cannabis,” he said.
As the chain continues to grow, Orr also says it's not about just trying to compete in a competitive market. It's also about accessibility.
“You’ve seen one older gentleman leaving the store just a few minutes ago. He may live in the area and usually had trouble getting over to one of our other locations and now he can walk or it's just a short drive,” said Orr. “We get people from all ages coming in. This location helps them if they’re in the neighbourhood.”
For more information on Star Buds, head to the website by clicking here.
