Council-approved pot shops that have never opened are creating roadblocks for new cannabis stores in downtown Kelowna.

Even though there are currently no operating pot shops in Kelowna含羞草研究社檚 downtown core, city staff recommended councillors not support applications for two new Bernard Avenue stores that hit their desks on Monday (June 28) due to their proximity to local parks and other approved locations.

But those shops have yet to open, despite getting the city含羞草研究社檚 go-ahead two years ago.

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Hemp City owner Lee Schurian is looking to begin selling weed out of his already-operational head shop and Krista Lusted is hoping to open a new shop, the Green Pineapple, just down the street in what is currently a Telus location.

Council gave the green light to both rezoning applications, sending them to public hearings.

含羞草研究社淗aving none open downtown is a deficit we didn含羞草研究社檛 plan on,含羞草研究社� said Coun. Ryan Donn, adding he含羞草研究社檚 curious to hear the public含羞草研究社檚 input.

While the other two approved locations aren含羞草研究社檛 open and storefronts have changed hands since their approval, they still might end up opening at some point.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 not convinced that the market will entirely support all of them, but that含羞草研究社檚 not for me to decide,含羞草研究社� said Mayor Colin Basran.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 open to a free market; let the best store win.含羞草研究社�

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com

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