Kelowna cannabis dispensary's licence suspended for selling edibles to minor
A Kelowna dispensary has been caught selling cannabis products to a minor.
Prime Cannabis on Pandosy Street in Kelowna will serve a seven-day licence suspension after failing an undercover inspection by the BC Liquor and Cannabis Branch.
On Nov. 30, 2023, the 16-year-old minor agent was sent to Prime Cannabis to buy cannabis products.
The minor had a brief discussion about the products with the budtender at the store before they were presented with a package of gummies containing 10 mg of THC.
The transaction was completed without the budtender asking the minor's age.
The budtender in question has worked at Prime Cannabis for two and a half years. Court documents state that he was very remorseful about the incident.
He also said he was surprised he didn’t get fired immediately and that he did not fill out an incident report, as he did not have time.
The budtender received a written warning as a result of the alleged contravention. He agreed to submit a letter of apology to the corporate licensee accepting full responsibility for his mistake.
Since the contravention, the budtender started a group chat with the other employees of the store to check in every week with reminders about checking for ID.
The regional manager said he felt it was the right decision not to fire the budtender because he's an example of how mistakes can happen and how all staff must be attentive to make sure this does not continue.
The liquor and cannabis branch found that the regional manager did not have a system of adequate training.
However, after the contravention, he had taken steps to remedy some of the store’s shortcomings.
Prime Cannabis will have to serve a seven-day suspension starting on April 3.
The store could have also faced a $7,000 fine, but the the Liquor Branch did not find this necessary.
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