Kimberley was the first community in British Columbia to grant business licences to two medical marijuana dispensaries, Tamarack Dispensaries and Earth91Ƶs Own Naturals.
Now, Tamarack Cannabis Boutique will be the first retail cannabis store in the province to be granted a licence from the provincial government. They received it on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2018. And Earth91Ƶs Own will also be receiving their business licence, says owner Laurie Weitzel.
The process requires security screening and financial integrity checks, support from the local government or First Nation and a store inspection.
It91Ƶs been a bit of a slog through the process for Tamarack owners Rod and Tamara Duggan. Tamara says they applied shortly after the provincial government opened up the approval process in mid-August.
91ƵIt took until yesterday when they called to say approval had been granted,91Ƶ she said. 91ƵOn Tuesday night I had the inspection with Liquor and Cannabis BC and they said we were done, just go online, pay the annual licence fee and you91Ƶre good.91Ƶ
However, she went online to discover that the site was down for testing.
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
91ƵI wouldn91Ƶt say the entire process was easy,91Ƶ Duggan said. 91ƵEvery time I completed one step, I would find out something else is required.
91ƵThey were only one step ahead of me the whole way. I was the guinea pig because I was first to apply. So to the folks who come behind me, you91Ƶre welcome.91Ƶ
With all that behind them, the Duggans are excited to enter the new phase of their business, but will have to close until the product ordered through the government arrives. They were open, and very busy, on Thursday.
91ƵI will now be closed until I receive the cannabis products,91Ƶ she said Thursday. 91ƵThey will probably arrive some time next week. It91Ƶs the first time for me to do that ordering, so there will probably be a few glitches. But because I am the first one order, I get the pick of the crop!91Ƶ
Tamarack will have a grand re-opening as soon as the stock arrives.
WATCH: Inside a B.C.-based marijuana production facility
Kimberley Mayor Don McCormick is pleased to see the licences granted.
91ƵTamarack91Ƶs behaviour as a business, under difficult circumstances the last two and half years, has made them a model for other retailers,91Ƶ he said.
91ƵThey have given tens of thousands of dollars to non-profits, given back to the community. This makes them a model for all other cannabis retailers.91Ƶ
McCormick also says that the two businesses have operated in Kimberley for the past two and a half years and there have been absolutely no problems.
91ƵIn two and a half years, there has not been one formal complaint. Both have been awesome businesses.91Ƶ
Like us on and follow us on .