Kamloops council not high on pot dispensaries

“Everyone has to have a business licence if you wish to operate in the City of Kamloops, and so far I haven’t seen any reason why we would ever change those rules,” says Councillor Pat Wallace.

“The last government screwed up the medical marijuana file, and this government is screwing up the retail marijuana file, and we are left to pick up the pieces, and I urge and emplore the Provincial Government to forget about Airbnb, forget about Uber, deal with the retail marijuana situation in British Columbia,” says Mayor Ken Christian.

In December, council changed its business licensing and zoning bylaws, changes that included raising the maximum per-day fine for dispensaries operating without a business licence, to $10,000 in an effort to reduce the impact of problem stores, on their neighbourhoods. Council believes staff time and resources is better spent preparing for legalization of pot, and what that’s going to look like for retail canabis operators.

“The bylaws on this one are challenges, but that’s where the fines come in, going after landlords, going after people not acting well in those situations I think is fair ball, but if you’re not bothering anybody and operating under the radar, I think we’re good with that,” says Councillor Arjun Singh.

by Tanya Cronin

Kamloops council not high on pot dispensaries

Our Community