Council-approved pot shops that have never opened are creating roadblocks for new cannabis stores in downtown ΑπΑ§ΙρΙη.
Even though there are currently no operating pot shops in ΑπΑ§ΙρΙηβs downtown core, city staff recommended councillors not support applications for two new Bernard Avenue stores that hit their desks on Monday (June 28) due to their proximity to local parks and other approved locations.
But those shops have yet to open, despite getting the cityβs go-ahead two years ago.
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Hemp City owner Lee Schurian is looking to begin selling weed out of his already-operational head shop and Krista Lusted is hoping to open a new shop, the Green Pineapple, just down the street in what is currently a Telus location.
Council gave the green light to both rezoning applications, sending them to public hearings.
βHaving none open downtown is a deficit we didnβt plan on,β said Coun. Ryan Donn, adding heβs curious to hear the publicβs input.
While the other two approved locations arenβt open and storefronts have changed hands since their approval, they still might end up opening at some point.
βIβm not convinced that the market will entirely support all of them, but thatβs not for me to decide,β said Mayor Colin Basran.
βIβm open to a free market; let the best store win.β
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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