MARYSTOWN, N.L. – Five new cannabis retail locations have been selected in the second phase of request for proposals (RFP) by the Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC).
Three of the qualified applications are for Oceanic Releaf with locations at 209-213 Unit #2 Ville Marie Drive in Marystown, 4-10 High Street in Port aux Basques and 12 West Link Road in Rocky Harbour.
Canopy Growth submitted the other two qualified applications with 41 Church Street in Bonavista and 27 Aspen Drive in Happy Valley Goose Bay identified as the locations.
“I’m extremely excited and happy,” Oceanic Releaf CEO and founder Taylor Giovannini told The Southern Gazette.
Giovannini’s retail outlet in Marystown will be in the former Island Escape location, also previously Brews and Views.
She says she chose that spot for a number of reasons.
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“That location stuck out to me (because) it was available . . . it is just a high traffic area (and) it’s also a safe distance away from schools and frequent places of use,” she said.
Having a standalone store helps ensure minors are not able to access the business, she added.
“We want to be a very positive influence in the area,” she said.
The NLC regulates products that can be sold at retail outlets.
In its press release, the NLC said its licensing department will contact the applicants to guide them through the next phase of the application process to become licensed cannabis retailers.
The NLC previously announced 24 qualified applicants from the first phase of RFP on May 7. With several geographic gaps, a second region-specific Request for Proposal (RFP) was launched on May 8 with a closing date of June 21.
The evaluation process of the second phase RFP included the review of 13 proposals.
According to the NLC, with the new application locations, more than 85 per cent of the province’s population will be situated within 50 kilometres of a licensed cannabis retail store.
