Kamloops pot shop caught selling to undercover minor

A Kamloops cannabis store was fined after selling to a minor.

The 16-year-old customer happened to be undercover, which led to a $7,000 penalty for North Shore pot shop Fiore Fresco more than six months later.

BC Liquor and Cannabis Branch inspectors sent the undercover shopper to the Fortune Drive store on July 11, 2023. At the counter, the minor asked an employee, who happened to be a manager, for a can of cannabis-infused iced tea.

Without being asked for ID, the undercover shopper paid with a $20 bill, then left with the can and a little more than $12 in change. The entire exchange was supervised by one of the two inspectors, according to a liquor and cannabis regulator decision.

The other liquor and cannabis inspector then went to the store and told the store manager that their last customer was both underage and undercover.

Local night club owners Christopher Monteleone, Justin Cuzzetto and Dino Bernardo jointly own the Fiore Fresco cannabis shop. They testified it was the first time in more than a decade of service-industry business they've had an issue with any of their licences, according to the decision.

The manager, who is unnamed in the decision, told the regulator he mistakenly believed the undercover shopper was a regular customer, admitting it was a "grave oversight" not to ask for identification.

On Feb. 9, the regulator fined the store $7,000, with a one-month deadline to complete the payment. The store will also have to prominently display signage inside that recognizes the $7,000 penalty.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.