By James Peters / Chad Klassen

Farnworth and Eby tour cannabis store, praise Kamloops for its readiness

Oct 19, 2018 | 2:53 PM

KAMLOOPS — The provincial NDP government says there’s good reason Kamloops is the only city in the province that had a brick-and-mortar BC Cannabis Store ready to go on the day cannabis was legalized in Canada.

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth and Attorney General David Eby toured the store next to Save-On Foods in Sahali Friday afternoon.

After the tour, Farnworth and Eby told media the government’s policy was to defer to local jurisdictions on the locations of cannabis stores — or if the cities wanted them at all.

“We did not want to force a store on any municipality that didn’t want one. We want them to have their own rules in place; we want them to do what’s right for their local community,” said Eby. 

“For Kamloops, that meant early cooperation and support, and we’re very grateful for that, from mayor and council who approved this store the day before legalization on October 16. That’s what we’re looking for from other municipalities.”

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Another hitch that has prevented more stores from opening across B.C., according to Farnworth, is the municipal vote being held Saturday, Oct. 20.

“They happen tomorrow, and they take place three days after the legalization of cannabis. Many communities have said they want to be able to deal with the issue of licenses and where stores were going to go after those local elections. That’s something we respected,” said Farnworth.

Meantime, Farnworth says supply of cannabis for the Kamloops store and the province’s online shop is good, with the federal government issuing more licenses to producers all the time.