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乌鸦传媒檚 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乌鸦传媒檚 go-ahead two years ago.

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READ MORE: Transformation of Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 Bernard Avenue underway

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.

乌鸦传媒淗aving none open downtown is a deficit we didn乌鸦传媒檛 plan on,乌鸦传媒� said Coun. Ryan Donn, adding he乌鸦传媒檚 curious to hear the public乌鸦传媒檚 input.

While the other two approved locations aren乌鸦传媒檛 open and storefronts have changed hands since their approval, they still might end up opening at some point.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 not convinced that the market will entirely support all of them, but that乌鸦传媒檚 not for me to decide,乌鸦传媒� said Mayor Colin Basran.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 open to a free market; let the best store win.乌鸦传媒�

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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