‘Green Mile’ Attracts Cannabis Customers

Pot shops are becoming a hot attraction on Vernon’s Westside Road.

In fact, one section has been dubbed “The Green Mile” with three stores within one kilometre, and word three more could open soon.

Russ Stevenson, who opened Top Hat Cannabis six weeks ago, says the product comes from Indigenous sources and is “100 times better” than what the federal government offers.

“People are shopping for a better product than the government has. That’s all the government has is moldy over-dried pot. You should hear the reviews. Absolutely disgusting. You’ve got people flushing it down the toilet because it’s just not worth smoking,” Stevenson tells Beach Radio News.

Stevenson says the great thing about operating on First Nations land is the government laws don’t apply, other than buyers have to be at least 19 years old.

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“As long as the natives grow their own, there is no government rules for them,” says Stevenson.

While it is a gray area in the legislation, First Nations say their reserve lands are not under provincial jurisdiction.

Stevenson also operates (illegally at this point) a medical cannabis store in the Alpine Centre in Vernon, which he has applied for a provincial license for, and says his Westside Road site is doing “way more business.”

He says they have a partner with the Okanagan Indian Band, who owns the land, and they could end up with up to six stores on native land

Stevenson says they have done well with their lower price policy than their closest competitor, Indigenous Bloom, which is across the road.

“When we moved out there they were $20 for 3 joints, and we were $10 for 3 joints, so right away things started changing and we got the prices down. Now they’re $12 for 3 joints, but they haven’t changed their basic per gram price.”

Stevenson thinks his store will eventually be a gold mine, although not yet, as it’s only been open for six weeks, with most buyers from the Band, Vernon and Kamloops.