It almost seems hard to believe, but cannabis will become legal in Canada this week.

However, when that happens on Wednesday, it’s not like things will all of a sudden feel different.

In fact, unless you’re in Kamloops, there won’t be a legal cannabis retail outlet that you’ll be able to walk into and purchase pot.

Kamloops will be home to B.C.’s first and only legal cannabis store on Wednesday, but it’s not for a lack of people trying.

The province’s public safety minister, Mike Farnworth, says that 173 applications for cannabis retail outlets have been received by the government.

Farnworth added that other outlets will follow the approved store in Kamloops and will open in the coming months, but there are no firm timetables for when that will happen.

Of the 173 applications received so far, 62 have been reviewed and submitted to local governments for further review, with 35 of those in the latter stages of the approval process.

While you won’t be able to walk into a retail store and buy pot on Wednesday, you will be able to legally purchase the recreational drug online.

Farnworth said Wednesday marks a historic day in our country and he’s confident the provincial government’s online services providing cannabis to British Columbians will function properly.

With files from the Canadian Press.