After the Canadian Cannabis Society closed earlier this month following raids by the province in July, a lawyer with Acumen Law says it’s unfortunate for those who want alternative cannabis products, but it makes sense.

Kyla Lee says it is probably a cost neutral decision to shut these operations down with long term benefits to the legal scheme and to tax revenue collection. “There is a mechanism in place for people to apply for licenses, obtain those licenses and set up a shop lawfully. And if they’re not participating in that process, it’s in the government’s best interest to shut them down.”

Lee says operating unlawfully costs the government. “Because everybody that’s operating unlawfully is costing the government in terms of tax revenue that could be made off a lawfully operating store as well as the licensing fees and application fees associated with obtaining those permits.”

Lee says it is an unfortunate situation for those who want to use cannabis, but don’t want to smoke as they don’t have legal ways to access those products. “And as frustrating as that is, because access to cannabis products even after legalization has been really difficult, and because we don’t have edibles or topicals legalized right now, people who take their cannabis products in forms that aren’t smoke or capsules, don’t have as much ability to obtain their medicines or recreational drug of choice.”

Boomers Bud is now the lone unlicensed shop operating in Kamloops.