A new non-profit medical marijuana dispensary has opened in Regina and owner Kelly Csada says she plans to donate a chunk of her profits to charity.
“There’s a lot of mental health and different things that I want to give back to so that’s why I decided to go the non-profit way.”
The business venture was a natural choice for Csada.
“I have Crohn’s disease and that’s what brought me here in the first place,” she said.
For years she was on a list of heavy doses of narcotics which she described as a tiresome routine until she started using a simple dose of marijuana oil.
“It changed my life,” she said.
“I have five grand children, I can spend more time with them and do more things with them. I’m not in bed or I’m not in the bathroom 20 times a day anymore.”
It’s a common story documented by numerous medical marijuana patients, many who’ve obtained their own marijuana card which Csada says is the only way people can access medicinal services at her business.
“I don’t believe, unless you have a medical problem that you need to be using marijuana.”
According to Health Canada, it is legal for commercially licensed producers to grow and distribute marijuana for medical purposes.
However, dispensaries are still considered illegal.
“They’re not authorized to sell cannabis marijuana for medical purposes or any other,” Regina Police Service spokesperson Elizabeth Popowich explained.
“I went to the RPS and I had them open a file so they know where I am, what’s going on, my doors are open,” Csada highlighted.
She says while her primary goal is education, it’s actually her business model that she’s most proud of.
“What we’re about is patients helping patients. So we want to give back to the community.”