By Greg Fry/Chad Klassen

Dispensary owner who closed Kamloops shop in good faith hopes city is reasonable

Apr 18, 2018 | 4:52 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kevin Adams paid his GST, his corporate tax, and paid his employees well. 

Despite all that he agreed to shut down his cannabis dispensary — Okanagan Cannabinoid Therapy — on March 31 at the request of the City of Kamloops.

“I was hoping that the city would have issued temporary permits but they chose not to and no matter how it turned out at the end of the day that was their decision,” says Adams, the owner. “And I told them that I would honour their decision. I took them at their word that they will look favourably on our application.”

He’s hoping that by behaving like a “good corporate citizen,” his shop will be in line for a business license once marijuana is legalized in Canada this summer.

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Adams adds the 4/20 crowd “is not his scene” — and instead attends international conferences on the medicinal benefits of marijuana on a regular basis. He’s also met with B.C.’s solicitor general in Victoria and has even been approached by the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce for membership.

“We are playing as nice as we can with the government because they’ve offered in provincial regulations to transition some existing dispensary owners and I don’t think they’ll transition people who are selling to underage people and those who don’t pay their taxes.”

He says that’s more than he can say for “nine or ten” dispensaries still operating in Kamloops.

“I’d say only two are responsible. The others I wouldn’t enter their establishments. They’re shady operations at best.”

Adams also praises Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian for his knowledge of the topic along with most councillors, and is totally on board with Christian’s suggestion that there be 12 dispensaries in town once legalization goes into effect.

“I’ll defer to the mayor. He knows the city and has a background in health.”