{"id":348162,"date":"2021-07-19T06:06:04","date_gmt":"2021-07-18T20:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=348162"},"modified":"2021-07-19T06:06:04","modified_gmt":"2021-07-18T20:06:04","slug":"saipan-select-1st-cannabis-retailer-in-the-cnmi-now-open","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/saipan-select-1st-cannabis-retailer-in-the-cnmi-now-open\/","title":{"rendered":"Saipan Select: 1st cannabis retailer in the CNMI now open"},"content":{"rendered":"
From left: Budtender Victoria Diaz, retail manager\/owner Chris Cook, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, assistant retail manager Brenda Villagomez, and business shareholder Clyde Norita at the grand opening of Saipan Select first cannabis retail in the CNMI in Tanapag last Friday. (Contributed Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Saipan Select, the very first cannabis retailer in the CNMI, is now open at its location along Route 30 in Tanapag. <\/p>\n

The store officially opened its doors to the public last week with the aim of bringing to the community safe and easy way to get cannabis and cannabis-related products. <\/p>\n

The company received its license on July 14 and did not dilly-dally getting to work right away. According to business shareholder Clyde Norita, Saipan Select holds two licenses from the Cannabis Commission. \u201cThe first license is a Class C production license, which means we can produce and cultivate marijuana up to 5,000 square feet and do wholesale. Our farm is in a warehouse behind our shop. \u2026Our second license is retail, which gives us authorization to sell,\u201d he said. \u201cThe way we set the business is that 60% of our business is going to sell wholesale to other retailers and other lounges that are licensed by the Cannabis Commission and sell to customers who drive by the shop.\u201d <\/p>\n

Saipan Select had a soft opening last Wednesday where guests came by invitation and the its grand opening last Friday. The shop is conveniently located by the road, parking is available and. once you enter, a big counter awaits you where you can do your transaction fast if you already know what strain to get. <\/p>\n

If you are undecided, you can take your time as there are tables and chairs available where you can sit down and look at a menu of products or \u201cstrains\u201d available at the shop. Saipan Select is allowed to sell retail\u2014cannabis not over 1 ounce per customer. Pricing depends on the kind of strain.<\/p>\n

Types of strains currently on the menu are: Wedding Cake or \u201cFina\u2019mames,\u201d Girl Scout Cookies or \u201cRota Buds,\u201d Purple Punch or \u201cTaga Stoned,\u201d Bruce Banner or\u201dTaima\u2019nao,\u201d Lemon Sour Diesel or \u201cForte,\u201d OG Kush or \u201cMarianas Trench,\u201d White Widow or \u201cChagi Nori,\u201d Lemon Haze or \u201cMa SUFA\u201d and Blue Dream or \u201cDudus Girl.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a producer, we plant what we see has potential and then as we further our business, we plan to produce more various strains. \u2026On the retail side, a menu is available, which is a list of cannabis in different strains. We have kept the actual names lifted from leafy.com, an authority on different cannabis strains but gave it a local name for the purpose of the people in the CNMI. Also, it is something to make them smile when they read it,\u201d Norita said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe drying and curing part is really the critical part for the cannabis and we always want to achieve the highest [quality]. \u2026We know that our customers are connoisseurs on this and so we want to make sure that we give them the top-grade, top-shelf cannabis and strains because these guys know what they want,\u201d Norita added. <\/p>\n

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, who was one of Saipan Selects\u2019 visitors last Friday for the grand opening, enacted in 2018 the Cannabis Act of 2018, decriminalizing the use of marijuana and legalized its recreational and commercial use. <\/p>\n

\u201cI congratulate Saipan Select which is owned by reputable people in the community. \u2026There has been a lot of consideration put into signing this bill and I would like to thank the author and the Legislature who supports this industry. I look forward that it will become a very successful industry,\u201d Torres said. \u201cAt the same time, I also caution everybody to please use it the right way. Respect the community, the occasion. \u2026I encourage others members of the community to venture into this but follow the law and procedures of the Cannabis Commission.\u201d<\/p>\n

Norita said that part of their public service is reminding customers to follow the law. \u201cWhen they come to the store to buy, they have to prove that they are 21 years of age and have a valid government identification card. \u2026We remind them that there are some conditions like you cannot smoke it in the beach or public park, near schools, churches etc. \u2026We tell them to be sure to smoke in the privacy of your own home. \u2026We know our customers know the law but we just help refresh their knowledge. \u2026We sell to everyone\u2014whether local residents or tourists\u2014but consumption must only be here in the CNMI as they cannot take it outside.\u201d <\/p>\n

Saipan Select is open Monday to Sunday from 10am to 10pm. For more information, call (670) 488-BUDS. They are also on Facebook and Instagram: saipanselect.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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