Aurora Cannabis, a local family owned business founded by two life-long Prior Lake residents and high school sweethearts, opened its doors in August.
Randy and Sasha Beuc jumped at the opportunity to make their dream come true of opening up their own cannabis shop after Minnesota became the 23rd state to legalize recreational marijuana.
Located at 16535 Anna Trail S.E. in Prior Lake, the former 5,544 square-foot abandoned CrossFit gym is now Randy and Sasha’s newly renovated home away from home.
“This was an idea for many years where we said if this ever became legal, we were going to go for it,” said Sasha, the company president. “We officially started back in May and started on the background stuff while we were waiting for things to become legal because we knew it was in the process.”
The business will be temporarily licensed through the city until the state’s Office of Cannabis Management develops regulations outlining how and when businesses can participate in the new adult-use industry.
Sasha added that the city has also asked Aurora Cannabis to put up signage saying that their products have not been independently tested or verified, though she argues that they really are.
“We have to sign everything that we create to a lab and it’s tested for a whole panel of things and tested for the strength of THC in it,” she said. “It’s fully tested and we have to put up this signage which is not exactly true, but other than that it’s been pretty good with the city.”
Randy, a self-proclaimed cannabis enthusiast and vice-president of operations, said with his background in manufacturing and his wife’s expertise with marketing, the couple became perfect business partners.
“I know how to do manufacturing operations and I have always been a cannabis connoisseur,” Randy said. “That’s ultimately why we jumped because not only did I have the interest and expertise, but it’s an opportunity to make money. I know a lot of other small businesses in other states that have gone legal that have really struggled. We’re hoping this will be a little bit different.”
Aurora Cannabis sells cannabis-related items like Delta-9 infused products, CBD products and home grow equipment. The shop also offers a wide variety of edibles, beverages and pet products.
“We sell a lot of hemp-based low dose edibles as well as smoking accessories for things that people can use recreationally,” Randy said. “We also offer anything you would need to grow cannabis at home. It’s legal to grow up to eight cannabis plants at a single home.”
Randy also said cannabis has many helpful health benefits and encourages people to do research and speak to their health providers about the many positive effects.
“It’s prescribed as medicine for a lot of different conditions. I am diagnosed with an anxiety disorder myself and THC really helps get rid of noise in my head, so I think it’s an individual experience,” Randy said. “It is really helpful and has been really helpful to a lot of people for a really long time.”
Early recognitionAurora Cannabis is already gaining attention in the cannabis community where the product is legal.
Erica Avalos, the shop’s culinary infusion specialist, won an award for most innovative THC product for her Tasty Horchata Crispies, which are infused with Delta 9 THC and horchata, a popular Mexican drink, at the 2023 Minnesota Legacy Cup.
The Legacy Cup is the Midwest’s largest cannabis festival and was held at Surly Festival Field in Minneapolis on Sept. 30 and featured legacy growers from across the state.
As a former head chef at Mazopiya, Avalos is also a Hennepin Tech graduate with a strong knack for combining innovative flavor combinations and a passion for all things cannabis, according to Randy and Sasha. Avalos received certification through a cannabis training school.
Born and raised in Shakopee, Avalos also said she loves working with the Aurora Cannabis team and feels lucky she gets paid to be creative.
“It’s the most relaxing job I’ve ever had. I went from working 60 hours a week in a kitchen always stressed and always unhappy to this,” she said. “I come in and have a good time and meet some cool people. It’s the best job I’ve ever had.”
In addition, Sasha said as a proud Latina, she was even more proud when Avalos, also a Latina, took home the prize. She also said being a minority business owner has also made her feel empowered.
“As Hispanic women, there’s been so much support in the community,” Sasha said. “We haven’t had any problems at all and it’s really empowering to have your own business as a woman.”
Challenging
the stigmaAside from striving to be successful, Randy and Sasha, who are both graduates of the Minnesota State University, Mankato, said they would also like to break the stigma surrounding cannabis.
“We’re parents like other parents out there. We’re just normal people. There’s nothing outrageous about us,” Sasha said. “We’re responsible and educated. Randy and I both went to college and both had long full-time jobs before this. I recently quit my full-time job to do this full-time. Erica is an awesome mom like me. We have kids in local schools and we’re really involved in the community, too. Our kids play hockey and I’m constantly at the school volunteering.”
Randy, who also obtained a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of St. Thomas, added that he delivered the same message to the city at one of its city council meetings but said it was poorly received.
“I know the message isn’t well delivered to people who just view cannabis as a negative, but we genuinely feel like being here can be a positive for the community,” he said. “We say that through the eyes of parents of kids who are about to be in the high school age very soon, so there’s nobody who’s more invested in the community and in staying safe than us. Whether or not people agree with that I guess nobody agrees with everyone, but that’s how we feel.”
Randy and Sasha added that one of their many goals is to employ local residents and support economic growth in the community.
“We grew up in Prior Lake. Most of the people who are involved in the business right now are graduates of Prior Lake High School,” Randy said. “Sasha and I graduated in 2007, my brother and investors in 2005. We’ve lived here a really long time and we’re staying here. We love it here, this is our home.”
