Dispensary owner thinks Kamloops pot shop licenses should be even more expensive

But Weeds Glass and Gifts co-owner Chuck McCarthy says he thinks the levy should be $30,000 — in line with the fees that will be charged in Vancouver once recreational marijuana is legalized in October.

McCarthy, who says his medical dispensary pulled in more than $1 million in sales from 2,800 clients last year, believes cannabis retailers should be able to handle the expense.

“I think [the business license fee] should be higher. We’re taking so much money out of this community, we should be giving some back to it. With the amount of money that we’re making, I think the licenses should be higher,” said McCarthy.

“Last year, we did around $1 million to $1.2 million [in sales]. I figure if we’re pulling that kind of money out of the community, that we should be giving something back to the community,” McCarthy added.

In addition to giving back, McCarthy believes higher license fees would weed out fly-by-night operators.

“I think it would deter a lot of the riff raff from coming into this business, because they don’t want to part with $30,000.”

While several retailers are expected to enter the Kamloops legal recreational cannabis market come October, McCarthy says Weeds will stick to medicinal clients.

“The store’s doing great. Our sales are really high and I figure we should just give back to Kamloops because we’re taking so much out of this community.”

Recreational cannabis use will become legal across Canada on October 17.

by James Peters / Chad Klassen

Dispensary owner thinks Kamloops pot shop licenses should be even more expensive

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