Kamloops Council has introduced changes to its pot bylaw governing where dispensaries can locate.
A number of proposals will go to public hearing for input and a final decision, including a one time application fee of $1600 dollars and the annual business fee of five thousand dollars.
However, Councillor Tina Lange called the five thousand dollar fee “gouging”, and couldn’t support the motion.
“I really cannot get behind charging a business owner, who is starting a new business, and whenever you open up a new business the costs are astronomical, its license after license, after this, and after that. It’s going to be very expensive for someone to start this business, and to charge them 5 thousand dollars to have a business license, to me, is over the top.”
Mayor Ken Christian was told the city has already spent close to 100 thousand dollars on things like lawyers and staff time to prepare for legalization October 17th.
“To me, this was kind of a placeholder, and a place to start, so that we could get these applications adjudicated in time for the October 17th deadline.”
There could be as many as 15 to 20 private stores in Kamloops, with the money raised from the business fees to educate the public and those business people wanting to set up a shop about the by law.