Hefty markups and competition are among the challenges plaguing shop owners five years into legalization. Municipalities have yet to see promised tax revenue, and businesses hope to provincial and federal governments will ease regulations.

When Mike Babins opened his legal cannabis shop on Jan. 5, 2019, he had a vision of where he’d be in five years  even if it was admittedly pie in the sky.
“I kind of thought I’d be on my private isl…