Starbuds in Lake Country becomes first provincially-approved pot shop in Central Okanagan
LAKE COUNTRY - It's taken far longer than anyone expected, but the first provincially-approved cannabis retail outlet in the Central Okanagan is setting up shop in Lake Country this month.
Starbuds, a cannabis retail chain with locations across western Canada, received final approval from the B.C. government on July 11 to operate a store in Lake Country. The shop is expected to open this month, although the exact date is unknown.
The #cannabis Gods have heard us! #KELOWNA WE ARE LIVE! @StarbudsCanada opening in #LakeCountry July 2019. https://t.co/pVfKqRCXxv pic.twitter.com/e66RknDtVa — Daniel Winer (@dwiner) July 11, 2019
The shop will operate at Turtle Bay Crossing, a location that delayed the store's opening by half a year. The store hoped to open in December 2018, but the District of Lake Country council shot down its request for a bylaw variance which would have allowed them to operate nearby a children's daycare. The bylaw variance was defeated narrowly 4-3.
Celine Fitzgerald, the co-owner of the Lake Country Starbuds location, was stunned by council's decision at the time. She asked for another vote on the variance and councillors changed their minds. The bylaw variance passed unanimously.
It's been a slow process, but Starbuds now joins Vernon's Spiritleaf among the growing number of provincially-approved cannabis retail stores in the Okanagan.
A long time coming. Looking forward to bringing the legal industry into the Kelowna area. Well done to the @StarbudsCanada team! https://t.co/L9bCbdYM83 — Dave Martyn (@davemartyn1) July 11, 2019
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