The world’s first airport weed shop loses its boarding pass (and lease) — here’s why

from Johanna Skopl

Canadians hoping for a fast train before boarding their flight at a British Columbia airport are out of luck. Last year, Prince George Airport would become the first in the world to open a cannabis retail store in its terminal. But unfortunately the project failed.

Photo by Artur Tumasyan via Unsplash

What happened

In December, the Prince George Airport Authority (PGAA) announced that Cloudbreak Cannabis, formerly known as Copilot Cannabis, “would not sign a lease or begin construction, citing changing market conditions.” Apparently, the decision was made due to changing economic conditions, MjBizDaily reported.

RELATED: This airport could be the world’s first to open a marijuana shop

“A lot has changed in the economy,” said PGAA President and CEO Gordon Duke. “And certainly in the last six months, with interest rates and inflation, we’ve seen that the economic environment has really changed.”

Duke said the store has been in development for about three years and was scheduled to open in the first quarter of this year before plans change.

He explained that it took longer to develop than a normal airport retail store would, citing regulatory hurdles associated with opening cannabis stores as well as the added complexity of opening a retail store at an airport. “We were hopeful and excited that this could come to fruition, but we understand the risk that comes with any startup.”

RELATED: Airport Cannabis Amnesty Boxes Won’t Be Used — Here’s Why

Last year, one of Canada’s busiest airports, Toronto Pearson, reportedly hired a lobbyist to explore the possibility of selling cannabis. However, the airport’s government agency ruled out these business plans before they went live.

AirportPhoto by Erik Odiin via Unsplash

Canadians use cannabis responsibly

Despite a decline in recent years, Canadians still prefer smoking as the most common method of cannabis use, according to a recent 2022 Canadian Cannabis Survey.

Findings from the survey include cannabis use among people aged 16 to 19 returning to pre-legalization levels in 2021 and 2022. Most respondents even said they bought products from legitimate stores. The report also showed that stoned on weed decreased between 2018 and 2021 and remained flat in 2022.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and has been republished with permission.

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