British Columbia unveils plans to regulate cannabis

British Columbia, undeniably the province that is most Canada's cannabis-friendly cities, announced yesterday how it would regulate cannabis.

The final decisions announced are the result of a 5-week public consultation, which ended on November 1, during which 48,951 British Columbians provided input.

British Columbia will therefore allow any adult over the age of 19 to purchase cannabis—the same age requirement as for alcohol—a measure similar to those in other provinces that have already announced their regulatory frameworks.

As in Alberta or to Quebec, the distribution of cannabis will be regulated by the alcohol control agency, the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch. However, the province has not provided any information regarding the distribution network. Industry stakeholders are particularly eager to know whether there will be room for private dispensaries, which are already widespread—even for recreational use—in British Columbia.

«We thank all British Columbians who provided their input during the [consultation] process,» said Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth. «We will continue to take your views into account as we develop policies and laws that are in the best interests of the province.»

Among the findings from the consultation, British Columbia residents opposed it en masse at the idea of having a government monopoly on cannabis distribution, as in Ontario. The report linked above notes that «most people prefer to see the current dispensaries and the products they offer legitimized, licensed, and regulated.».

Canadian provinces are announcing their future regulatory frameworks one after another. We are still waiting to hear from Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and the territory of Nunavut.