Cannabis retail outlet opens on Penticton Indian reserve

PENTICTON – A second cannabis retail outlet has opened up in the Penticton area in less than a week.

Indigenous Bloom opened their doors in a new building off Green Mountain Road on the Penticton Indian Band yesterday, Aug.14.

Workmen were still working on final construction details Thursday morning and balloons marked the site off Green Mountain Road, on the Okanagan River channel beside the Super Save gas bar.

The store’s manager, who would only identify himself as Mike, said a grand opening would be taking place, probably in a couple of weeks. He would not disclose further details about the operation.

Advertisements on the store’s outside window offer medicinal hemp and cannabis.

Penticton Indian Band Communications Coordinator Dawne Russell said the band is not commenting on the business, which is on locatee land. The band has, however, tried to establish itself as a 'dry' community free of alcohol and drugs. 

The brand opened a store on First Nations land in Lake Country in January, and has stores in other parts of British Columbia as well.

Indigenous Bloom’s Penticton store is not listed on the B.C. government’s list of licensed cannabis retail locations.

Last Saturday, Penticton’s first retail cannabis store opened on Skaha Lake Road under the Spiritleaf brand.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 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.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

Steve Arstad

Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

Steve Arstad's Stories