Prime Cannabis is being ordered to close for a week in April after a store employee was caught selling to an undercover minor.
According to a recent decision made by the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch, the dispensary, located in Kelowna at 2680 Pandosy Street, was caught by a ‘minor agent’ who was working undercover.
In a compliance order decision made by the general manager of the Branch on March 6, a staff member, or ‘budtender’ sold a package of THC edibles to the minor agent on Nov. 30, 2023.
The decision states that first an inspector entered the store around 5:30 p.m. to ensure the store was safe for the minor agent to enter. The inspector then texted a second inspector who was waiting outside with the agent. The minor agent was then sent into Prime Cannabis.
The minor agent waited in line, had a brief conversation with the employee about the product, and asked for a package of gummies containing 10 mg of THC. The agent then paid with cash and left the store. The edibles were handed over to an inspector who was waiting outside in a government vehicle. The gummies logged into evidence.
The Branch states that at no time did the employee ask for identification from the agent.
Then, the first inspector still inside Prime told the employee that they had just sold cannabis to a minor. The employee was asked to provide identification, a valid Selling It Right certificate, and an employee schedule. The employee cooperated, but stated they did not have a schedule as only two people were employed at the store.
The decision states that Prime Cannabis has officially admitted to the sale to a minor.
Prime Cannabis did not fire the employee following the sale, with the representative stating at the hearing they believed the employee to be remorseful, had them start a weekly ID check-in with all Prime Cannabis staff, and the employee submitted an apology letter.
According to the decision, the Branch found Prime Cannabis did not provide sufficient documentation to prove due diligence in training staff and said incident logs were not being completed.
Prime has been ordered to close for seven days beginning April 3. The store’s license will be held by local police or the LCRB until it has completed the suspension. Signs are to be placed at the shop to inform the public of the violation.
The order was handed out March 6.
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