By Greg Fry

First government-owned pot store will be located in Kamloops

Jul 11, 2018 | 1:43 PM

KAMLOOPS — The wait is finally over: the first government-owned cannabis retail outlet in B.C. will be located in Kamloops.

The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) announced the news today. The store will be located in the Columbia Place Shopping Centre in Sahali.

Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian credits the hard work of city staff as the reason Kamloops will be getting the first government store.

“And I’m comfortable that the government store is going to be well run. We don’t have the concern about the influence of organized crime and the drug trade. So, I think it will be a showcase.”

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He also suspects more stores will quickly follow.

“I suspect they’ll have over locations in Kamloops when all is said and done. This is the first one but as the retail landscape starts to fill in I think this will become common place.”

The city says the Kamloops BC Cannabis Store will employ approximately 20 employees, including a store manager, assistant manager, and cannabis consultants. Postings for the jobs are expected to be published within the next week.

Today’s announcement follows the passing of the federal Cannabis Act last month, setting the stage for the sale of recreational pot beginning October 17, 2018.