Photo: Dustin Godfrey

A Penticton dispensary owner said he has received his first ticket from the city after council voted Tuesday to cancel his business licence.

Lukka Laurio who runs the Rush In and Finish Cafe said the ticket amounted to $250, and that he would pay the ticket and leave his doors open.

“I think it’s a good idea,” he said. “Aside from the fact that it’s an infraction of a bylaw which is totally in dispute and I’m not done with. You set that aside, it gives the city an opportunity to claim some revenue.”

He said that he will continue to pay fines as long as the city continues to serve them, but that he has no plans to close his doors at this point.

“I’ll keep this place operating until such time as there’s a viable replacement,” he said. “I just can’t let so many people down all at once.”

He said that even with other dispensaries still operating nearby, it would be disruptive for his customers.

“These people are used to coming here,” he said. “That’s like a couple thousand people who would be inconvenienced by not leaving it open.”

Mayor Andrew Jakubeit said after Tuesday’s special council meeting that if fines weren’t effective, the city would pursue injunctive action and attempt to get the courts behind it.

Laurio said he has been consulting with his lawyers on his options, both in the instance of a court order and to consider challenging the city’s decision.

“It’s not over,” he said. “City council had their say, I had my piece. I’m not entirely happy; I’m pursuing other avenues to dispute their claim.”

However, he said that if the city gained backing from the courts, the doors would be shut for the time being.

“They’re an ultimate authority.”