Alberta opens the doors to its first on-farm cannabis store

Alberta is set to welcome its first farm-to-store cannabis shop. Behind the project is, Gorilla Garden Supplies, a small-scale producer located in Okotoks, south of Calgary, has just received its direct sales license issued by the’Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). This authorization will allow the company to sell the products directly to consumers grown and processed on-site, we learn StratCann.

Officially known as Retail License for Cannabis Suppliers, this new regulatory category, introduced by the AGLC in july 2025, aims to bring together the small producers of their customer base. It gives them the opportunity to market their products without going through the wholesale distribution system of the province, which is often seen as a barrier to the flexibility and freshness of the products offered.

For Jason Squires, founder of Gorilla Garden Supplies, sees this development as a strategic opportunity. As the owner since 2022 of a federal production license, he had already converted part of his former hydroponics supply store into a facility cultivation and processing. Faced with a slowdown in the hydroponics market early this year, the entrepreneur decided to convert the front portion of the building into direct sales area, thereby transforming its website into a true meeting place for producers and consumers.

«We want to be able to offer exclusive products,» he explains. «It’s not about competing with stores that already sell our products, but about offering different formats that people can’t buy anywhere else and providing exclusive products at our farm store.»

It also plans to market cannabis clones next spring, in order to attract hobby gardeners interested in high-quality varieties.

Future Projects

Mr. Squires hopes to open the store on November 1, but there are still a few administrative steps that need to be completed before the first sale can take place, including the’final approval from the AGLC for transfers of products between the federally licensed facility and the provincially regulated store.

In the longer term, Jason Squires envisions a more comprehensive experience for visitors.

«I think farm-direct sales can really pave the way for retail and cafes,» he explains. He envisions adding a outdoor terrace and even some food trucks, thereby creating a destination that combines education, responsible consumption, and local tourism.

«Farm-direct sales are an important model for tourism. People want to see what goes on and how the products are made.»

Gorilla Garden's ambitions extend beyond Okotoks. The company recently acquired a second facility in Ponoka. Together, the two sites will help streamline production and expand retail options in southern Alberta.

A rapidly growing national trend

Alberta becomes the Canada's fourth-largest province to implement a an official framework for direct farm sales of cannabis, after the’Ontario, the New Brunswick and the British Columbia.

Ontario was the first to launch its program in 2021, with five certified farm-to-consumer retail sites by mid-2024. New Brunswick followed that same year, allowing local producers and nurseries to sell their products on-site, and now includes seven participating establishments.

British Columbia joined the movement in 2022 with its model of retail store for producers, but adoption has been slower: only three companies have opened farm-to-consumer retail outlets so far.

The emergence of farm-based cannabis stores reflects a broader shift in the Canadian market toward shorter supply chains, the freshness and the promotion of local brands. For consumers, this provides a clear picture of where their products come from; for small producers, it is a way to survive in a highly competitive retail landscape dominated by large corporations.