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B.C.’s public safety minister says the province will meet demand for recreational marijuana with only one government-run shop and an online store when the drug is legalized next month.

Mike Farnworth also defended the province’s approach to legalization Monday after it announced that only one brick-and-mortar B.C. Cannabis Store in Kamloops will be open when recreational pot becomes legal Oct. 17.

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“This is the largest public policy shift in this country in decades and it’s not something that just happens overnight,” said Farnworth in an interview.

“The fact that we went out and said we’re going to consult with local government and make sure that communities are involved right from the get-go was the right approach to take.

“To say that because you only have one store, this is a failure, quite frankly I just don’t accept that one bit.”

Farnworth said the Kamloops store is just the start and he expects a number of public and private shops will open in the weeks and months after legalization.