UPDATE: Copilot one step closer to being the world’s first retail cannabis store at an airport

(UPDATE: Feb. 8, 2022 @ 4:40pm ): Copilot is one step closer to being the world’s first retail cannabis store at an airport.

Prince George city council voted in favour of granting a third reading on a rezoning bylaw to allow the development of a cannabis retail store at the Prince George Airport, following a public hearing on Monday.

The final reading of the rezoning bylaw will be not be held until after the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure approves the bylaw.

Council also voted to support the approval of the cannabis license from the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch.

(ORIGINAL STORY: Jan. 7, 2022 @ 6:09pm): High flying could get a whole new meaning if approved for a business license from the City of Prince George.

The Prince George Airport has announced this afternoon that Copilot, a business that is pioneering cannabis for travel, has applied to open the first-ever cannabis retail store worldwide in an airport terminal at YXS.

Copilot has been working with federal and provincial regulators throughout the license application process and has met every required step to operate at YXS so far.

For this operation to work, the city must first give approval for a business license, which would mean a brand new store in the airport.

“Copilot approached us in 2020 with a request to apply to lease space at our airport,” PGAA CEO, Gordon Duke.

“They had a solid business plan that met our expectations for new business partners, and we welcome the opportunity to work with Copilot to expand the services available to our passengers.”

City Council is expected to give the license application the first reading on Janu. 10, but Copilot has already satisfied the regulatory requirements from both Transport Canada and the Province of BC in advance of their meeting.

“We see YXS as the perfect location to launch our initial store and fulfill our mission of making travel a less stressful and more enjoyable experience for our customers,” said Copilot Co-Founders Reed Horton and Owen Ritz.

“We are working with all relevant regulatory bodies to make sure we are satisfying every requirement of the licensing process and we look forward to becoming part of the community at YXS in the coming year.”