KAMLOOPS - Kamloops city council has unanimously voted to pass two private retail cannabis sales licence applications on the North Shore.

The applications still need to return back to the province before gaining approval but mayor and council gave the green light today, Oct. 30, in their regular meeting for the two new private pot shops to move forward in their application process.

Dozens of people showed up to Kamloops council chambers to show their support and opposition for the 399 Tranquille Rd. application.

The applicant, Chris Lyth, is proposing to open a recreational cannabis store which happens to be in close proximity to the Canadian Safe Cannabis Services, a medical dispensary located at 405 Tranquille Rd.

Carl Anderson, who operates the medical dispensary across the street from the proposed cannabis store was present in council to voice his objection to the application.

"It's less than 20 yards from my front door," Anderson says. "That's going to create some problems."

Currently, Kamloops bylaws around recreational cannabis shops do not allow for cannabis stores to be within 100 metres of each other.

The city's business licence inspector, Dave Jones, says Anderson was encouraged several times to apply for a licence to avoid this problem.

"Myself and my team have met with Mr. Anderson on a number of occasions to make that provincial application, we encouraged him to get that going and unfortunately (another) application has beat him to the punch," Jones says.

The second application for a proposed cannabis shop at 6-750 Fortune Dr. inside the Fortune Shopping Centre did not receive input from the public.

Both applications were approved unanimously by council.

Coun. Denis Walsh did not vote on the matter as he declared a conflict of interest over plans of opening his own pot shop in the future.

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