A second private cannabis store is being proposed in Merritt.

The store called Hive Cannabis is looking to operate at 2040 Nicola Avenue, about 400 metres away from another private cannabis store looking to open at 1937 Quilchena Avenue.

The city’s director of corporate services Sean Smith says the newly-proposed store fits into zoning bylaws.

“Other than that, it’s just a matter of sending it out to the public for consultation, to see if there’s any concerns or strong opinions out there in regards to that. And then waiting on the provincial fitness and suitability check, and then once that’s done it will go to council for a final recommendation.”

The soonest that council would be able to give support to the cannabis store would be at their meeting on Jan. 22.

The other private store application on Quilchena Avenue is still awaiting a suitability check to be complete, and afterwards city council will decide whether to recommend approval to the Liquor Distribution Branch.

Smith says Merritt’s zoning bylaws stipulates a maximum of four cannabis stores in the city.

While two cannabis store applications have come forward to date, Smith says city staff have received other inquiries from businesses. He couldn’t speculate if any other applications will likely be coming forward in the near future.