Council-approved pot shops that have never opened are creating roadblocks for new cannabis stores in downtown Kelowna.
Even though there are currently no operating pot shops in Kelowna91Ƶs 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 city91Ƶs 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.
91ƵHaving none open downtown is a deficit we didn91Ƶt plan on,91Ƶ said Coun. Ryan Donn, adding he91Ƶs curious to hear the public91Ƶs input.
While the other two approved locations aren91Ƶt open and storefronts have changed hands since their approval, they still might end up opening at some point.
91ƵI91Ƶm not convinced that the market will entirely support all of them, but that91Ƶs not for me to decide,91Ƶ said Mayor Colin Basran.
91ƵI91Ƶm open to a free market; let the best store win.91Ƶ
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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