City of Penticton attempts to shut down pot shop

PENTICTON – The City of Penticton continues to enforce its present cannabis bylaws as it prepares new ones for the sale of retail cannabis in the city.

The city conducted enforcement action at a cannabis dispensary on Front Street last week following an investigation.

The city's property use and license inspector Jen Wells says TPD Boutique applied to the city for a business license to operate as a cannabis wellness centre and was advised in March of the city’s current prohibition on cannabis dispensaries.

City staff witnessed the boutique operating as a cannabis dispensary and determined the business was contravening several of the city’s bylaws, she says. The city then cancelled the boutique’s business licence and the business owner was ordered to cease operation by Oct. 24.

However, city staff received information on Nov. 21 the business was continuing to operate without a business license and the next day issued two municipal tickets for failing to comply with the business license bylaw at $450 apiece. A further inspection on Nov. 23 resulted in two more fines of $500 each for a total of $1,900 in fines issued to date.

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