A second retail cannabis store in Kamloops is doing a soft opening today.

The store on Lansdown Street called ‘Wizards’ is getting its first shipment of product today, according to general manager Phil Godin.

“We thought Friday the 13th was pretty awesome for Wizards.”

Godin says it’s been a long 13 months of going through the process with the province to receive a license – and says their landlord property next door covered rent for several months.

“He dealt with the fact that we weren’t able to start paying rent until about June.”

Godin says the process did take longer than he had hoped.

“Once we actually submitted our application, it took about three months to work out the kinks before we were actually able to have it fully submitted. Six months of security checks, financial integrity checks. And then once we actually had approval we had to go through the renovation process to bring us here,” he says.

“It’s been adventure… The big thing that I could say to anybody else who’s looking to get in is just compliance. The province wants what it wants, the municipality wants what it wants. Give them what they want and they’re going to let you do your business here.”

There are 14 more private cannabis retailers in Kamloops who have applied to the province for a license but have not yet opened their stores.