The Vancouver Sun reports in its Wednesday edition that British Columbia's slow rollout of legal, recreational cannabis sales has been gaining a little bit more speed with the opening of new private stores including one this week in Maple Ridge. The Sun's Derrick Penner writes that Alberta-headquartered retailer SpiritLeaf opened Monday in Maple Ridge, making it the chain's fourth location, said Nathan Noble, the company's manager of retail. "It does seem like things are starting to speed up," said Mr. Noble, "and the province is learning what is working and maybe what hasn't worked, and making necessary adjustments." SpiritLeaf's opening in Maple Ridge, in the Valley Fair Mall, is the third store in the Lower Mainland outside of Vancouver, after openings on Bowen Island and in Chilliwack. Mr. Noble said the location is a franchise operation that offers great exposure to foot traffic. Its neighbours in the shopping mall include a grocery story and numerous boutiques. It is the 59th private store approved and opened in the province, with another three provincially owned B.C. Cannabis stores, versus 270 retail outlets in Alberta. Police in B.C. have been stepping up enforcement against illegal operators.