VICTORIA — British Columbia's public safety minister says the government has received 173 applications for cannabis retail outlets, but only one approved store will open Wednesday when marijuana sales become legal in Canada.
Mike Farnworth says other outlets will follow the approved store in Kamloops, in British Columbia's Interior.
Farnworth says more cannabis shops will open in the coming months but there are no firm timelines for when that will happen.
He says of the 173 applications received so far, 62 have been reviewed and submitted to local governments for further review and 35 of those are in the latter stages of the approval process.
Farnworth says Wednesday's legalization of marijuana across Canada is a historic day that represents a major public policy shift.
He says he's confident the government's online services providing cannabis to British Columbians will function properly.
