Two more proposals for retail cannabis stores going to Kamloops city council
KAMLOOPS - City council will be looking at two more applications next week for pot shops in Kamloops.
Currently the city only has one licensed cannabis retail outlet up and running. The provincial government's store at the Columbia Place Shopping Centre opened on marijuana legalization day, Oct. 17.
At its meeting Tuesday, Nov. 20, council will be looking at a proposed store in four units at the strip mall at 450 Lansdowne St. downtown, which is causing some concern for a neighbouring healthcare centre.
Dr. Brian Pasula, the medical director of Kinetic Energy and Healthcare Centre, writes in a letter of opposition that his business has "some significant concerns" about that proposed location. Pasula says it will adversely affect his business and the surrounding area.
"The location is set for an area of Lansdowne Village which has been wrought with difficulties," Dr. Pasula writes. "We experience on a weekly basis drug deals, drug use including smoking and injecting and homelessness."
Palusa says the drug deals and use occur between the health centre's front entrance and the proposed cannabis store, where it is partly out of sight from the mall.
"We are not opposed to legal cannabis outlets but we certainly feel that the present location is too close to our healthcare centre," he says.
The other cannabis store is proposed for 40-700 Tranquille Rd. on the North Shore. The city has received at least one letter of support from Kamloops resident Grant Fraser who points out there is already a liquor store sharing the same parking lot.
If you have any questions regarding the proposed cannabis stores you can contact the Planning and Development Division at 250-828-3561 or send an email to legislate@kamloops.ca.
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