The Rural Municipality of Gimli council has approved plans for a new cannabis retail store in the Sandy Hook area, marking a major change in local policy for the lakeside community in Manitoba.
In a 3-1 vote on March 25, 2026, council members approved a conditional use application for a retail location at 102068 Highway 9. This decision is a notable shift for the municipality, which previously became the first in the province to formally reject retail cannabis sales following federal legalization in 2017.
The approval comes with several requirements for the project. The business must operate within set hours of 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week. Additionally, the existing building on the property must be demolished and the site cleaned up by August 1, 2026. The approval remains valid for 12 months, meaning the project must proceed within that timeframe or face expiration.
While the identity of the operator was not specified in the municipal records, Prairie Trichomes, a family-owned company that currently runs a store on First Avenue in Gimli, is considered the likely operator for the new location. Before the store can officially open its doors to customers, the applicant must secure a license from the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba, which oversees retail operations throughout the province.
Across Manitoba, the cannabis market has seen consistent growth, with provincial sales estimated at more than $265 million in 2025. As of February 2026, regulators had licensed 243 stores across the province to meet local demand.
