Like many communities, cannabis retailers in Merritt are waiting in a long line to be granted a license from the province.
The city’s development services director Sean Smith says the first two retailers who applied were given support from city council back in October and November.
“I’ve had some conversations with the province but I’m not 100 per cent sure where they’re at. I think when we started, we thought there would’ve been a little bit quicker movement here. But I understand that the province is inundated with applications, and without being privy to exactly what they’re process looks like I don’t really know where they’re at.”
In Kamloops meanwhile, only one private cannabis retailer has been given a license to open out of 16 that are in line; The Shore Cannabiz Shop on Tranquille Road opened back in March.
At time of posting, the BC government had issued only 38 cannabis sales licenses province-wide out of exactly 500 applicants.
Premier John Horgan told NL News last week he is frustrated by the glacial pace of granting cannabis license applications.