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 Kelowna㽶Ƶֱs 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 city㽶Ƶֱs 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.
㽶ƵֱHaving none open downtown is a deficit we didn㽶Ƶֱt plan on,㽶Ƶֱ said Coun. Ryan Donn, adding he㽶Ƶֱs curious to hear the public㽶Ƶֱs input.
While the other two approved locations aren㽶Ƶֱt open and storefronts have changed hands since their approval, they still might end up opening at some point.
㽶ƵֱI㽶Ƶֱm not convinced that the market will entirely support all of them, but that㽶Ƶֱs not for me to decide,㽶Ƶֱ said Mayor Colin Basran.
㽶ƵֱI㽶Ƶֱm open to a free market; let the best store win.㽶Ƶֱ
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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