The first retail cannabis store on the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation has opened up shop.

The store on Mount Paul Way called Pinnacle Access, located at the former Dee’s Cafe, had a soft opening today.

“This is the first business that has been opened on the reserve obviously with cannabis. I’m excited for them because this is their first time in business. They’re both young, they’re entrepreneurial, they’ve been doing their homework and they’ve been compiling all their information. They’ve worked very hard to get to today,” Tk’emlups Chief Rosanne Casimir says.

“They definitely had to work through some compliance factors within our Tk’emlups te Secewpemc laws, our bylaws, our business licensing, our permitting, and also of course looking at all the fiscal implications as well, in regards to taxation.”

The cannabis store is now the third to open up in the Kamloops area, with both one government store and one privately-run store open within city limits.

Casimir says the First Nation has heard interest from other potential cannabis retailers but couldn’t expand as to where they are in the process.

The City of Kamloops, meanwhile, has supported 18 license applications from prospective retailers who have formally come forward. So far, only two of those stores have opened.