Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Dylana Milobar

RETAIL CANNABIS ON RESERVE

First retail cannabis store on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc reserve opens for business

May 15, 2019 | 5:01 PM

KAMLOOPS — The city’s third legal cannabis shop opened its doors on the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc lands today.

Pinnacle Access, run by two TtS members, is the first of its kind on band land, and because of that, offers different products than current stores in town.

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

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Co-owner Nacoma George says today (May 15) was the first day of operations for he and Eagle Casimir’s retail cannabis store, and they’re planning to make some tweaks once they get their bearings.

“Right now it’s just a soft opening, and when we do have the grand opening, we’ll have some food and more product in here as well,” George says. “We’re just trying to work out some of the kinks in the system.”

Located on band land, the store is able to sell some items like candies and shatter, that existing retailers in Kamloops don’t have on their shelves yet.

“We do have some products that the provincial locations cannot carry,” he explains. “We do have some of the concentrates and things like that.”

Similar to gas purchases at stations on reserve, George says status First Nations will pay no tax on products bought at the store.

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

Chief Rosanne Casimir says the establishment does have to comply with band rules, and the band is operating under federal jurisdiction.

“You’re looking at good neighbour clauses, you’re looking at the insurance, you’re looking at fire protection, you’re looking at target markets, building permits, security, surveillance systems,” Casimir explains. “There’s a whole gamut of things that they have to look at and comply with.”

As far as revenue sharing goes, Casimir says this new business will have a similar model to what already exists.

“But this here is owned by two band members, so they will be going through the same practices as any other business within the reserve lands.”

Given that this is the first legal cannabis retail store on the reserve, Casimir says it marks a step forward in business opportunities for the band and its members.

“It’s always been a difficult process when it comes to establishing and opening any businesses on Tk’emlúps reserve,” she explains. “The biggest key thing is having that relationship, creating that relationship, knowing what laws you need to be in compliance with, and of course, doing your homework.”

Pinnacle Access could one day be joined by others, as Casimir says there are other applications in line for retail cannabis ventures on the Tk’emlúps reserve.