As the province moves at a glacial pace to approve cannabis business licenses even the Premier is getting frustrated.

John Horgan was asked if he is concerned as prospective cannabis entrepreneurs wait months and months for an approval with their costs mounting, and no relief in sight.

“I am concerned. I thought we had adequate time to get this up and running. Clearly the system is not moving at the pace the private sector needs,” he said.

“Investors are saying I would like to get into this business, whether they were in it before or not, they make decisions on leases, on equipment, on staffing but how do you keep staff if you can’t open your doors.”

Horgan says clearly there is a “glitch in the system” and Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth is working as hard as he can to sort out the logjam.

He says even government operated cannabis stores are struggling to get licensed to open, and Horgan is hoping for some good news soon.