The mayor of Kamloops says the province has to do a much better job approving legal cannabis licenses.

Ken Christian says young entrepreneurs in this city are shelling out major costs for leased properties as they wait six, seven, and even eight months for a license approval.

Christian says that is unacceptable.

“They still seem to be very slow, painfully slow, in terms of issuing the provincial approvals,” he said. “We have 17 approved in Kamloops and only two licensed and operating at this point in time. I believe that, that is because they just not have anticipated this supply issues. This is becoming a real impediment in terms of seeing this roll out.”

He says it is one thing to weed out organized crime but another thing altogether when legitimate business people are being put in a financial vice.

Christian is urging on the government to do better.