A developer has proposed a retail cannabis store in McLure which would be the first in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.

Director of development services Regina Sadilkova says the store would be located at 1520 Canyon Road, a frontage road just off the Yellowhead Highway.

“I believe they want to broaden their license. They have a smoke shop there now, it used to be I believe a grocery store and an autobody shop, historically. And they have applied to the province, of course part of that they have to go through the local government. What we’re doing is both the rezoning and the referral process together.”

She says a public hearing about the cannabis store will likely happen next month, and approval from the TNRD board would follow. Board members will see a staff report on the application for the first time at next week’s meeting.

“The staff are recommending it. We’ll have to wait and see what the board of directors have to say. As far as the location, there are no schools or parks in the immediate vicinity. It is a ways outside of the District of Barriere. Right now we have no concerns.”

The TNRD has no zoning bylaw to allow retail cannabis, and any application requires a rezoning amendment.