The application for a private cannabis retail store is on the left (399 Tranquile Dr.) while the CSCS is on the right, at 405 Tranquille Dr. (via Brendan Kergin)

The executive director of Canadian Safe Cannabis Services (CSCS) is not happy with the proposed location of a recreational cannabis store — just steps away from his own operation's door.

Carl Anderson has been running CSCS for 10 years. Located at 405 Tranquille Rd., the organization works as a members-only club serving people who have prescriptions for medical marijuana. After recreational cannabis was legalized on Oct. 17, Anderson found out an application for a private retail cannabis store at 399 Tranquille Dr. was making its way through city hall.

That has him upset for a few reasons, especially the fact the application for the store at 399 Tranquille Rd. is set to appear before council on Oct. 30. That's the last day the old council will gather around the horseshoe. The new council, elected on Oct. 20, will gather for the first time on Nov. 6, with four different councillors.

"They're just trying to ram it through before they leave office," Anderson says. "And we can't vote against them in the next election."

"It's political suicide to do it with the new council."

While CSCS has no licences to operate under current legislation, Anderson points out they've been able to operate due to court rulings allowing people to access medical marijuana. He adds current legislation didn't address medical marijuana, and he's still selling to people with prescriptions.

"Unless they start affording people their rights, which the fought for and were awarded by the courts, there's no fear of anything," he tells KamloopsMatters. "If they do afford people their rights eventually, then there won't be a need for places like this and there won't be a need for people like me."

Anderson looked into getting a licence but was told he'd have shut down in the meantime. When he asked about the people who come to him, he says he was told it was immaterial, and that if he wanted to eventually sell cannabis under the new legislation, he'd have to shut down.

While access to medical marijuana is a long-term issue, he says he's focused right now on the application coming up on Tuesday, Oct. 30.

"The main thing I want to oppose is this thing with the city pushing this through with a bunch of city councillors who (shortly won't) have offices," he says.

He adds the application coming up at the end of the councillors' terms is part of his disenfranchisement with voting, along with his supporters.

"They want their voice heard at city council by people who are in office," he says. "Nothing's changed for medical users, at all; I'm not interested in having any part of it."

Anderson says he'll go to chambers to oppose the application and says he's submitted a petition against the store.

Rod Martin, the city's development manager, confirms the city has received a petition, along with letters supporting and protesting the store. It's one of two private stores on the Oct. 30 agenda.

"So far, those are the only two private ones we've received a referral of from the province," Martin says.

He says the store's application is moving forward with administration's support and the CSCS location doesn't play into administration's decision-making.

"We don't take it into consideration," he says. "We only take into consideration the other legal licenced ones."

The other private application is for 750 Fortune Dr. and a second government application for Northills Centre is also with the municipality. All three meet distance parameters in municipal legislation, but don't take into account any current dispensaries.

Council has the option to table the motion of support for the 399 Tranquille Rd. store, or any application, for discussion at a later date. If it's approved, Martin isn't sure when it could open, as the application would return to the provincial government and it's unclear how long that will take.