The legalization of cannabis on Oct. 17 has raised a lot of questions — legal, economic and more — and the Dec. 17 event Curious About Cannabis, hosted by Creston’s Flower Pot Foundation, will be the place to have them answered.
The event, which starts at 6 p.m. in the Creston Hotel banquet room, will have guests from the RCMP, Town of Creston, College of the Rockies and We Grow BC, as well as a medical cannabis expert, on hand to present information.
“There are a lot of legalities that people in town don’t really know about,” said Flower Pot director Mimika Coleman. “They don’t know where to get the information.”
Coleman and her brother, Chris Karountzos, run Jimmy’s Pub and Grill and the Creston Hotel, and they have received tentative provincial approval to open a cannabis store in Creston. Their customers are often curious about cannabis—wondering where they can smoke it and how long after to wait before they drive — so Coleman has been doing plenty of research, which she’s happy to pass on.
“We’ve applied for a retail licence,” said Coleman. “We’re interested and reading up on it all the time. We’re gathering all this information, and we figured we’d better see if we can share it with everyone.”
Attendees will learn about the federal and municipal aspects from, respectively, the RCMP and Town of Creston, and they will also hear from Carmen Rockwell-Hoover, who instructs the Cannabis Retail Specialist Program at the College of the Rockies.
Representatives from We Grow BC, which is located in the Creston Valley and has a 100,000-square-foot production facility, will also be presenting.
“They’re really wanting to dive into the community, and get to know people in Creston,” said Coleman.
Also on hand will be medical cannabis expert Drew Ray, who Coleman said has been using medical marijuana since licences became available.
“He knows everything about every strain,” she said.
The cannabis information event fits well with the goals of the Flower Pot Foundation, which donates to local graduates pursuing an education in horticulture, and supports community beautification with gardens. It was created in memory of Coleman’s sister, Maria Karountzos, who died in 2013.
“She had a love of horticulture and all that grows,” said Coleman. “She really did love cannabis, as well.”
Only 90 people are allowed in the banquet room, so the Dec. 17 event will be first come, first served. For those who arrive early enough to get in, Coleman hopes the evening will provide an answer to all their questions.
“We’re hoping to eliminate some myths about cannabis, and address some concerns,” said Coleman. “It is similar to prohibition. It’s now being regulated. It’s going to be safer and more regulated.”
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