Orillia's only independent and locally-owned cannabis store is taking a unique approach aimed at helping people who are suffering.
Vivid Cannabis Co. store manager Victoria McGillis says her store boasts a first-responder program to help pave the way for people with physical and mental health concerns to get support.
“Our staff is very educated in anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) ... all sorts of things that first responders deal with,” she said.
McGillis’ fiancé is a sergeant with the OPP who deals with PTSD. That led her to become passionate about helping first responders deal with stress through cannabis consumption.
“I wanted to help those people who are suffering ... so we will sit down with them, educate them, and figure out what’s best for them,” she said.
“It’s what separates us from your normal walk-in and order product for recreational use off a tablet sort of thing. Although we do sell for recreational use, the main goal is to gear toward helping people who are suffering.”
Vivid Cannabis Co. is working on developing a lab where they will plan to to launch Orillia’s first farm-gate production site store which would allow customers to purchase cannabis products directly from the producer.
McGillis, a Coldwater resident, says Orillia is the perfect spot for the new business because of how close their 3 Progress Dr. location is to OPP Headquarters and Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH).
“Recently, we’ve spent a lot of time with some nurses from OSMH because of what they’ve gone through with COVID. Now they are experiencing anxiety and depression and they don’t want to go the pharmaceutical way; they want to go the more herbal and natural way,” she said.
So far, the community feedback and support for the retailer has been nothing but positive, McGillis says.
“All I keep hearing is this is so much better than anti-depressants and pain killers because sometimes the strong medication restricts them from driving a vehicle at work or puts them on modified duties,” she said.
The hottest products at Vivid Cannabis Co. right now are CBD beverages. The store is planning on hosting events in the near future where people can learn how to infuse CBD and cook with it.
“We want to get into the healthy side of it, we want to be different, and we think that’s what sets us aside from anyone else. In the long run, we just want to help people,” McGillis said.
For more information about Vivid Cannabis Co. and its products, click here.
