Opposition strikes down 3rd Ave. pot shop, Massey Drive location approved

Weed was the word for Prince George City Council this evening (Monday). 

While one new location for cannabis retail was passed through Council with little fanfare, another came with multiple voices of opposition and close to two hours of discussion. 

FLORA Recreational Cannabis applied for the location of 101-3300 Massey Drive and approval was carried unanimously. 

The company is owned and managed by Argent Diversified, a Kelowna based investment fund, who are also looking to open a chain of Cannabis Retail stores throughout the Interior and Northern BC, a few of which they have municipal approvals for. 

However, the discussion did not bode as well for Nasser Kamani CEO, President and Director NK Botanicals Ltd, who was in front of council for a second time looking to appeal an earlier vote for a proposed location at 1289 3rd Avenue.

Two months ago Kamani’s application came to council and with it came opposition from residents worried about the close proximity to nearby alternative school, Intersect Youth and Family Services. 

This time, 51 people signed letters of opposition to the location, and multiple came to speak in person. 

Kamani, a local pharmacist, offered three options to council; a) to approve for a fully operational retail store, b) Kush to only operate during the hours that the school is not, or c) that a permit and retail license are both approved on the condition that he relocates to a different location via a relocation application through the Liquor and Distribution Branch.

None of those gained approval.

“They should have proper bylaws when I applied to this. Including my property, this will cost about $430,000.00. It’s discouraging, I just hope they put in proper bylaws so that no one else has to go through this,” said Kamani.   

“The best thing we can do is educate people on cannabis. It’s here, it’s going to be around.” 

Councillor Terri McConnachie, alongside Councillor Frank Everitt, voted in favour of Kush Kove. 

“I’m disappointed on behalf of the applicant. I really do believe that everybody could have shared that same space. With all the safety precautions that the applicant had, I think they could have done it,” she said.