Epik Products Inc gets green light after swaying Mayor and Council

“I definitely did more work this time in getting everyone in here.”

Lebel provided Council with dozens of letters and acknowledgements from downtown businesses who were in support of her business, particularly the additional services she would be providing.

Lebel says their 6,000-square feet of store space, split between two floors, as well as their Education Centre, will separate themselves from the rest in Prince George.

“Whether you’re a new user or an experienced user, there’s still so much information out there, and more stuff coming out all the time.”

But the applications did come with those opposed. In a letter submitted to the council, Grasshopper Retail Inc said, “We acknowledge that it looks as if the applicant Healx Medical Corp in collaboration with the BC Hemp Corporation has spent a lot of capital to enhance the proposed location but their complete disregard for the Prince George Liquor and Cannabis Licencing Policy isn’t something that should be approved solely based on money spent in advance to being approved.”

“It was surprising to see a new application for a store only 200 feet away from an existing recreational cannabis store,” wrote Justin Mousseau of Shire Green Cannabis. “The LCLP recommendations were not met for numerous locations approved by council over the last year, thus lending to confusion on what to expect in the future.”

In September, Councilors Kyle Sampson, Terri McConnachie, and Brian Skakun all said as a council they are in no position to dictate competition amongst businesses.

“I will support this. It’s a legal business selling a legal product,” Councilor Skakun said, adding that Epik Products Inc was a group of individuals investing into the downtown.

Meanwhile, Councillor Cori Ramsey, who was amongst the four who were opposed to the application in September, stood as the lone vote against Epik Products Inc this time around.

Monday’s news from Mayor and Council was highly awaited for the staff members waiting in the wings, who are excited to provide both the products and the education to go along with it, something HR Manager Jamie Batting wished she had when she was first introduced to cannabis.

“It would have been fantastic because it took me probably from when I was 18 when I first started to actually realize that I was allergic,” said Batting. “It took me about five years to finally realize ‘oh this isn’t a normal reaction to have’. It would have been nice to have that educational stuff, so having people who are actually knowledgable will help and guide people.”

Epik Products Inc is just finishing up renovations of their 356 George Street location and then awaiting the final approval from the BC Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch.

“I’m really hoping before Christmas because we only have a couple of weeks of renovations left to do, they just have some finishing work,” said Lebel. “And then we’re ordering in the product, and we’re keeping it all within Canada so we’re not worried about delays at the border.”

Grasshopper Retail Inc. was also before council on Monday, submitting an application to rezone its location at 421 George St. The company has operated their store at that location since receiving a temporary use permit from the city back in April of last year. The temporary-use permit would have expired in 2022. With the rezoning, it means the company will not have to reapply to the city to continue operating at the location.

Council also approved rezonings and supported applications for cannabis licences for proposed cannabis stores at 2626 Vance Rd. and 6055 Monterey Rd.

by Ethan Ready

Epik Products Inc gets green light after swaying Mayor and Council

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