Canada: British Columbia finalizes its cannabis regulation

British Columbia had unveiled last December part of its cannabis regulatory framework for Canada's upcoming legalization. Missing were a few details on the distribution network, which the province completed this week.

The new law has been amended to include two articles regulating the sale and consumption of cannabis. Cannabis Control and Licensing Act and the Cannabis Distribution Act. A few changes have also been made to the Motor Vehicle Act in an attempt to better manage people who drive under the influence of cannabis.

Under the new rules :

• the minimum legal age for selling, buying or using cannabis is 19
• the province will control cannabis distribution under the aegis of the local Bureau des Liqueurs
• cannabis will be sold in state-run B.C. Cannabis Stores and in private stores. The government will also sell cannabis online
• stores will be limited to selling 30g of dried cannabis flowers or the equivalent in oil, wax and other resins
• cannabis cannot be sold in stores that sell alcohol or tobacco
• possession of cannabis in public will be authorized up to 30g
• British-Colombians will be allowed to grow 4 plants per household, unless the house is used as a nursery. Plants must not be visible from the outside.
• Cannabis consumption will be banned where tobacco consumption is already prohibited, plus in places where children gather (playgrounds, sports fields, parks, etc.).
• ban on using cannabis in a vehicle

With regard to the Motor Vehicle Act :

• anyone caught breaking the law at the wheel risks a 90-day licence suspension. Cannabis will be detected by taking a «bodily substance» sample, or by evaluation by a police officer trained in cannabis detection.
• 0 THC tolerance for newly licensed drivers

The price at which cannabis will be sold, however, has not yet been determined. In theory, it should be low enough to redirect consumers to the legal market, without being too attractive.

The legalization of cannabis in Canada comes into effect at the end of the summer.