The BC Provincial Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (formerly the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch) is responsible for licensing private non-medical cannabis retail stores. Any Kamloops private cannabis retail application must be reviewed first by this provincial authority, before being referred by the Province to the City of Kamloops.
Application Guide Application Form
Division of Responsibilities
The federal Cannabis Act (Bill C-45) received Royal Assent on June 21, 2018, which set the stage for the production, distribution, sale, possession, and consumption of non-medical cannabis beginning on October 17, 2018.
The federal government will be responsible for licensing and monitoring cannabis producers and for setting industry-wide rules and standards for the cultivation, processing, packaging, and advertising of non-medical cannabis.
Provinces and territories control the distribution and retail sales of non-medical cannabis within their jurisdictions. The BC provincial government has appointed the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) to be the exclusive wholesale distributor of non-medical cannabis, while retail sales will be offered to the public through a combination of government and private owned stores as well as online through the government site.
For more information, visit the provincial cannabis retail sales webpage.
Municipal governments can regulate retail locations through their zoning authority and some aspects of retail operations through their business licensing authority. Municipal governments may also support the federal and provincial governments with public education and the enforcement of cannabis rules and regulations.
In an effort to keep pace with federal and provincial regulations, the City of Kamloops has amended its Business Licence and Regulations Bylaw and Zoning Bylaw. There are four zones in which non-medical cannabis retail stores may be located. View the report that was provided to Council in April 2018.
The City participates on the Joint Provincial-Local Government Committee on Cannabis Regulation (JCCR), whose mandate is to provide a forum for timely and effective communication and consultation between local governments and the Province in the development of the provincial regulatory framework for legalized non-medical cannabis. The City’s participation on the JCCR ensures that it has the most up-to-date information concerning the provincial non-medical cannabis licensing process, which will assist in the development of a local application process that is both fair and equitable.
Council adopted the proposed cannabis bylaws to approve fees related to operating retail cannabis stores during a Public Hearing on August 28, 2018. The adopted fees include a $1,600 application fee for a Retail Cannabis Sales Licence Permit and Existing Licence Amendment, which matches the current Liquor Licence Permit Application Fee, and a $5,000 annual Business Licence Fee.
In July, the BC Attorney General announced that BC’s first government-owned cannabis store will be located in Kamloops, BC, within the Columbia Place Shopping Centre. The selection of this location was based on a number of factors, including municipal readiness for the zoning of cannabis retail operations and site suitability.
The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) is currently considering a number of locations across various municipalities for the rollout of its other BC Cannabis Stores and is focused on ensuring a careful and efficient rollout that will provide the best possible customer experience and compliance with all health and safety regulations.
The store will be staffed with approximately 20 employees, including a store manager, assistant manager, and knowledgeable cannabis consultants.
All BC Cannabis Store employees will receive extensive training, which will concentrate on social responsibility practices related to safety and responsible adult use, comprehensive product knowledge, and customer service skills.
In addition to its brand of retail stores, the LCRB will also offer online sales of non-medical cannabis to ensure that British Columbians have access to cannabis province-wide upon legalization.
The City is now accepting referrals from the BC provincial government for non-medical cannabis retail stores. An Application Guide on the private cannabis retail process in Kamloops is now available.
Additional information is available on the following provincial web pages:
View the locations of non-medical cannabis retail stores on the Kamloops Non-medical Cannabis Retail Locations interactive map.*
*This map is for information only. The locations noted on this map are either approved to be in operation or in the application stage. The locations are based on property addressing and are not to be used to determine proximity requirements as required by the City of Kamloops Zoning. The map is updated within 48 hours of the City of Kamloops receives and processing a Retail Cannabis application.
All inquires can be directed to the Business Licence Inspector at 250-828-3594.