The city now has a second application for a retail cannabis shop.
As we first reported last week, the provincial government has applied to the city for permission to open a BC Cannabis Store at the Pacific Rim Mall on Johnston.
Local businessman Major Rai has also applied to the province to become a retailer, and the province has forwarded that application to the city for a response.
Rai told city council that local retail opportunities should be left to independent businesses, and the province should be kept out.
“Having a government store is not providing anything for the local economy,” he said. “When you’re working on minimum margins it’s just reducing volume for the local operators.”
Rai said it costs $9000 up front for licence from the province, and retailers have to provide proof that they have upwards of $150,000 in capital for inventory, wages and operating costs.
City Council could be in a position to begin approving retail cannabis licences by the end of January.
