The first retail cannabis store in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District is close to getting a green light.

TNRD board members passed third reading to rezone a property in McLure where the store is proposed.

Director of development services Regina Sadilkova says the application now needs the Ministry of Transport’s approval before the TNRD adopts a rezoning bylaw.

“That is for the McLure Smoke Shop, and it’s to enable them to sell cannabis, retail, to the general public. It is the first one within the TNRD. To date, we haven’t received any opposition or any letters from the area residents,” Sadilkova says.

“It’s a very rural part of McLure… It’s not in the immediate area of any parks or schools, so I think folks seem to be relaxed with that.”

Sadilkova says the property is part of the Agricultural Land Reserve, but points out non-farm use was approved there “decades ago,” meaning this rezoning application will not need any approval from the Agricultural Land Commission.

She expects the retail cannabis application to be back before the TNRD board next month. The store owner will then need to be granted a retail cannabis sales license from the province.