Cannabis Retail Sales

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

Federal 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.

Provincial Responsibilities

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 Responsibilities

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.

Retail Sales in Kamloops
Kamloops-Based Public Retail

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.

Kamloops-Based Private Retail

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:

Kamloops Non-medical Cannabis Retail Locations
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.

cannabis, marijuana, non-medical cannabis, retail locations, retail cannabis application

FAQ

Cannabis Retail Sales

How will cannabis retail stores obtain their product?

In BC, all non-medical cannabis products will be distributed through the BC Liquor Distribution Branch. As with alcohol sales, retail businesses will not be permitted to grow their own product or source it from a third party.

Kamloops will be the first location in BC to have a provincially operated retail outlet.

The federal government has made the decision to legalize cannabis. What else is being decided by the federal government?

The federal government is involved with most questions around cannabis legalization such as production, taxation, possession limits, impaired driving, regulatory compliance, and education. It is also establishing minimum regulatory standards that each province may adopt or further restrict.

What about public safety and health concerns?

Most cannabis-related concerns around public health and safety fall under federal and provincial jurisdiction. Both of these levels of government have expressed a clear commitment to harnessing legalization to address existing public health and safety issues with cannabis. This includes legislative restrictions intended to keep cannabis out of the hands of minors and to combat impaired driving. Cannabis is being treated similar to tobacco and alcohol in that branding and advertising will be strictly controlled, and impaired driving prohibitions will be imposed both federally and provincially.

What are the fees for a Business Licence related to retail cannabis sales in Kamloops?

Fees include a $1,600 application fee for a Retail Cannabis Sales Licence Permit and Existing Licence Amendment and a $5,000 annual Business Licence Fee.

What decisions has the BC provincial government made about cannabis legalization?

In addition to their authority to establish age, possession, and personal cultivation regulations that are more stringent than those contained in the federal legislation, provinces and territories are responsible for many matters of implementation such as how and by whom cannabis may be sold and where it may be consumed within their jurisdiction.

The BC provincial government has announced that the minimum age to possess, purchase, and consume cannabis in BC will be 19 and that cannabis will be sold in both publicly and privately owned retail stores and online through the BC Liquor Distribution Branch’s retail site. In February 2018, the BC Retail Sales framework was released.

Find the latest updates here.

What happens once cannabis is legalized?

Once cannabis is legalized:

  • Individuals aged 19 and older will be able to possess up to 30 grams of legal dried cannabis—or the equivalent in non-dried form—and they will be able to share up to 30 grams with other adults.
  • Individuals will be able to purchase cannabis from provincially licensed private retail stores, provincially operated retail stores, and the provincially operated online retail site.
  • Public consumption of cannabis in Kamloops will be limited by:
    • Provincial legislation, which prohibits cannabis smoking everywhere that tobacco smoking is prohibited and everywhere that children commonly gather (playgrounds, sports fields, skate parks, etc.)
    • The City’s Parks Regulation Bylaw, which prohibits cannabis smoking and vaping in all parks and City facilities
    • The City’s Clean Indoor Air Bylaw, which prohibits cannabis smoking and vaping within a 7 m buffer zone of all public entrances to buildings
  • Public intoxication will be prohibited, as will the sale of cannabis to those intoxicated by drugs or alcohol.

What is the City able to regulate?

As a general rule, municipalities can regulate retail locations through their zoning bylaws and some aspects of retail operations through their business licensing bylaws. Issues pertaining to public consumption and personal growing may also fall within municipal jurisdiction.

The extent of municipal governmental jurisdiction is determined by the Province and the authority granted in the Community Charter and the Local Government Act. Forthcoming provincial decisions may broaden or restrict the scope of what cities like Kamloops will be responsible for regulating at a local level.

Municipal governments may also choose to support the federal and provincial governments with public education initiatives and the enforcement of certain rules and regulations concerning such matters as:

  • New fire and building regulations
  • Prohibitions on selling cannabis to minors
  • Rules on the consumption of cannabis in public
  • Rules on personal cultivation of cannabis

When can private retailers apply for licences?

Referrals are now being accepted from the BC provincial government for private cannabis retail Business Licences in Kamloops. An application guide and form on the private cannabis retail process in Kamloops are now available.

Application Guide   Application Form

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 to the City by the Province.

When will retail cannabis licenses be approved?

On October 16, 2018, Council will review for Council Resolution the City's first retail cannabis sales licence application (No. CAN00001 for 200-1210 Summit Drive). View the full report here.

The first private retail cannabis sales license applications will be heard for Council Resolution on October 30, 2018.  

Where can I find more FAQs?

Where in Kamloops is a retail cannabis store able to be located?

There are four zones in which non-medical cannabis retail stores may be located. These zones are identified in the Zoning Bylaw Amendment Bylaw No. 5-1-2878.

Where will adults be able to grow their own cannabis within the city once it is legal?

Once legalized on October 17, 2018, individuals aged 19 years and older will be able to grow cannabis at home for personal use, but not for resale. A maximum of four plants per household will be permitted by federal and provincial law. Plants must not be visible from a public place. Landlords and strata councils will be authorized to restrict or prohibit non-medical cannabis cultivation.

Why is it important for the City to pass local regulations prior to legalization?

The situation is unique in that an entirely new industry is being developed within a very short period of time. It is important for the City of Kamloops to have its own regulations in place at the time of legalization so that we can ensure that this new industry is introduced in a manner that best meets the needs of all Kamloops residents. This includes determining where it would be best to locate retail stores and whether any Business Licence restrictions or requirements should be imposed in order to fairly balance community interests.

The City’s Business Licensing Section has received a significant number of inquiries from companies and individuals wishing to operate cannabis retail stores in the City, and we expect that demand for Business Licences will be high. In order to balance competing community interests, the City wants to ensure that its regulations fairly address the needs of retail operators and their neighbours.

Will there be government-owned retail cannabis stores?

The BC province government has announced that it will operate retail cannabis stores. Kamloops will be the location of the first government-owned cannabis store in BC, which will be located within the Columbia Place Shopping Centre. 

Where and how many government stores in BC has not been determined at this time.

Will “cannabis cafés” be legal once cannabis is legal?

Consumption lounges have not been approved by the BC provincial government at this time. It is anticipated that this will be reviewed in 2019. 

Will “edibles” (cannabis food products) be legal?

Currently, edible cannabis products are not legal in Canada. In June 2019, Health Canada finalized regulations for the production and sale of edible cannabis, cannabis extracts and cannabis topicals. As required by the Cannabis Act, the amended regulations will come into force on October 17, 2019. View full details here.

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