Cannabis Industry Update---------------------------------------------------------
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Cannabis Industry Update:
April 10, 2024
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Dear ABLE BC members and industry colleagues,
Here's the latest news for the private cannabis industry:
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Hello from Victoria!
Hello canna-folks & friends,
It's been yet another busy time in our industry and a lot of news to cover since our last update.
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While I'm in Victoria doing government relations work and visiting local cannabis stores — I wanted to make sure to say thank you to the industry owners, operators, and regulators in the area. Victoria's hospitality has been a fantastic experience and I look forward to visiting you all again!
Bo
Head of Cannabis Membership
ABLE BC
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Review of the Cannabis Act: Expert Panel's Final Report
The final report of the legislative review of the federal Cannabis Act has been submitted to the Government of Canada.
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BC’s Hub for Workplace Mental Health
The Canadian Mental Health Association has created a resource hub for employers and employees dealing with mental health challenges at work.
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Liquor Industry Update Newsletter
Sign up for our Liquor Industry Update Newsletter to learn more about our advocacy for liquor businesses. Click here to read past liquor newsletters.
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ABLE BC
Member Portal
The Member Portal is your hub for all resources and benefits available to ABLE BC members. Contact david@ablebc.ca if you need help logging in.
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ABLE BC Engages Surrey — City Approves Cannabis Retail
ABLE BC is pleased to announce Council's April 8 decision to permit cannabis retail in Surrey.
Earlier this week, we engaged with the City of Surrey on their proposed policy framework for non-medical cannabis retail — expressing again industry's support to open the community to licensed cannabis and additionally providing our feedback on the application criteria and in-take process.
As licenses will be limited to start, we also stressed the importance of prioritizing applicants with a demonstrated history of retailing regulated substances.
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ABOVE - Surrey's Cannabis Retail Application Process
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To summarize, Surrey's application criteria will be based on:
• Location (permitted zoning & OCP);
• Separation distances;
• Related experience of the operator;
• Parking and access plan;
• Visibility, lighting, and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (“CPTED”) elements;
• Signage and façade design.
While ABLE BC welcomes this decision and looks forward to Surrey starting their application acceptance process, we recognize there are still advocacy efforts required to open up other BC municipalities that are still closed to private cannabis retailers (i.e., Richmond and Burnaby).
If you are licensed cannabis retailer facing challenges in pursuing communities in BC that do not permit licensed cannabis retail, please contact our Head of Cannabis Membership.
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Health Canada Final Ruling: Jolts are Edibles
Earlier last month, Organigram announced they will stop production of their "Edison Jolts" products due to Health Canada's final redetermination that Jolt are to be classified as a cannabis edible instead of cannabis extracts.
When considered an cannabis extract, Jolts offered consumers more than the 10mg THC limit per package allowed under Health Canada’s rules for edibles. With this final ruling however, the products are now subject to the same THC limits.
"We are disappointed with the outcome of Health Canada’s further review of our Jolts product," said Beena Goldenberg, CEO of Organigram. "Our patented Jolts lozenge was launched over two years ago following significant research and development and was specifically designed to appeal to consumers looking to access regulated and tested ingestible products from the legal market that met their needs for potency and price."
As the production of Edison Jolts stops, retailers may wish to stock up on the remaining availabie inventory or look to toward a new product category to meet market demands (i.e. tincures, oils, gel capsules).
This product restriction will unfortunately continue to hinder licensed retailers to continue to meet consumer demands and ultimately flourish competition from the illicit market (where THC limits in edibles are not regulated and products are not tested for safe consumption).
Are you a licensed cannabis retailer frustrated with our industry's lack of government representation? ABLE BC works to support BC’s cannabis retailers, and we meet regularly with various officials at the LDB, LCRB, and with elected officials in federal, provincial, and municipal governments. Reach out to our Head of Cannabis Membership to learn more!
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Members Spotlight: La Canapa Boutique
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La Canapa Boutique is a unique shopping experience — with a diverse product offering, super-friendly & passionate staff, and a vibe that boasters cool art styles, their locations in Mount Pleasant, Marpole and Dunbar Street are definitely worth checking out.
La Canapa’s mission is to provide you the best value cannabis product Vancouver has to offer. They work closely with local cannabis growers to provide the community the dankiest of the danks. That’s right. BC Buds at its' finest.
La Canapa's team of cannabis enthusiasts love trying new products and are more than happy to help customers. Be sure visit one of their locations to see what's in for the week.
Also, they also cater to Richmond as well, providing same day cannabis delivery!
Follow La Canapa Boutique's on socials and check out their locations below!
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Illicit Cannabis in other Provinces
BC's legal retailers certainly know the challenges of operating in a highly regulated industry against a competitive illicit market that doesn't follow the same rules. Other provinces are also dealing with similar issues, and are taking steps and are amping up efforts to address it.
Recently in Nova Scotia, elementary school children consumed illicit cannabis edibles that were packaged to look like candy. Reportedly, the children comsumed about 200 mg of THC each. They were rushed to hospital to be treated for vomiting, decreased heart rate, and blood pressure.
A separate incident with youth occurred in Manitoba, where a couple gave out illicit cannabis edibles on Halloween. The illicit edibles were designed and packaged to look like ordinary candy brands. As a result, the provincial court issued the couple with a $5,000 fine earlier last month.
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ABOVE - Example of illicit cannabis edibles mimicking candy brands
New Brunswick is currently proposes changes to its' provincial Act as a means to reduce the sale of illicit cannabis. Some key proposed amendments would allow inspectors more authority and increase fines for those operating illegal dispensaries and their landlords. In their current fiscal year, New Brunswick peace officers have investigated and shut down 23 illicit cannabis dispensaries across the province.
Recently in Ontario, the province plans to add $31 million to its 2024 budget to address illegal cannabis stores and websites operating in the province. The funding would be provided over three years to the Provincial Joint Forces Cannabis Enforcement Team (PJFCET) — Ontario's enforcement unit for illicit cannabis operations (includes production, sales and distribution in both online and storefronts).
While perspectives on how to best address the issue of illicit cannabis competition may vary (i.e., consumer education, reducing redtape, better financial incentives, and or enforcement to name a few), it is clear to industry that the illicit cannabis market is still thriving in Canada to the disadvantage of the regulated market.
Want to learn more about BC's efforts in tackling on the illicit cannabis issue? Please contact our Head of Cannabis Membership or see the section below on our upcoming webinar with with Community Safety Unit.
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ABLE BC Webinar: BC CSU Efforts on Illicit Cannabis
Would you like to learn more about BC's provincial efforts to address illicit cannabis operations?
ABLE BC has invited the Community Safety Unit (CSU) to speak to our Cannabis Retail Members about their work and how licensed retailers can help contribute to their efforts.
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The CSU, under the Policing and Security Branch of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, is responsible for compliance and enforcement under the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act (CCLA), with a focus on the illegal sale and production of cannabis.
CSU investigators carry out compliance and enforcement activities against illicit cannabis retailers and producers across the province.
The CSU operates investigations through a variety of reactive and proactive strategies, including complaints received from the public, government agencies, police, and legal market operators.
Meghan Oberg, Deputy Director of the CSU will join us for a webinar and Q&A session.
If you have questions about the CSU you'd like Megan to address, please send these to ABLE BC's Head of Cannabis Membership.
Webinar Details:
Date: Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Time: 2:00 pm-3:00 pm
Location: zoom - the link will be emailed to you upon registration
Cost: ABLE BC webinars are free for Members! Simply log in to the member portal to register at no cost. Non-members may register for $15.
Click here to register for ABLE BC's webinar.
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Celebrating 20 Years of ABLE BC!
2024 marks both ABLE BC’s 20th anniversary and Jeff Guignard’s 10th anniversary as Executive Director. In 2014, one of Jeff’s first items of business was to fight the spread of wine on grocery store shelves. As you know, wine in grocery stores is a key issue we are focused on now (scroll up to read more). Like ten years ago, we’re prepared to protect your assets and investments in the private liquor industry.
As Jeff said in the 2015 ABLE BC Advocacy Report, “ We believe selling wine in grocery stores is a bad fit for BC’s economy and wine industry in the long term. While we continue to work with our provincial partners, ABLE BC is encouraging BC’s municipalities to enact bylaws imposing a minimum 1km distance requirement between all retailers of beverage alcohol, including grocery stores.” We dedicated countless hours to fighting wine in grocery in 2014 and 2015, meeting with members to understand business impact, submitting feedback to government, and launching a municipal campaign to protect local LRS businesses.
In 2015, BC allowed wine sales in grocery under two models: store-within-a-store, where an LRS operates inside a grocery store, and Special Wine on Shelves licenses that allows grocery to designate shelf space to 100% BC wine.
ABLE BC successfully limited grocery licenses to just 33: 21 VQA licenses owned by Wine Growers BC and operated by Save-On-Foods, and 12 Special Wine Store licenses that were auctioned in 2016 by the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) and purchased by Save-On-Foods and Loblaws.
We also convinced municipalities to enact 1km distance bylaws or restrict grocery to the impractical and unpopular store-within-a-store model.
We will continue to keep grocery in a corner. Government has confirmed it will not issue further wine in grocery licenses.
Last year, Vancouver City Council approved a bylaw amendment to allow wine on grocery store shelves instead of the previously approved store-within-a-store model. This change brought the city in line with provincial regulations, and did not introduce any new wine in grocery licenses in Vancouver. Despite having very little impact on Vancouver LRSs, this change highlights our frustration about municipalities removing barriers to wine in grocery, which may hurt local small businesses.
Wine in grocery is a current focus once again, with the recent amendment to Wine Growers BC’s agreement with Pattison Food Group. Scroll up to read more about what is happening now.
Rest assured, ABLE BC remains committed to protecting your assets and investments in the private liquor industry. We will always fight against selling any liquor products in grocery stores, convenience stores, and big box stores.
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ABOVE - Jeff Guignard speaking at the 2016 BC Liquor Conference
Do you have a story to share about your own history with ABLE BC? Get in touch with ann@ablebc.ca.
Stay tuned for more details about our June 6 anniversary party!
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Pitt Meadow's First Cannabis Store: Seed & Stone Opens
Once considered an area that was closed to cannabis retail, the City of Pitt Meadows welcomed Seed and Stone as the community's first licensed cannabis retailer in mid March.
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ABOVE - Seed and Stone (Pitt Meadows)
Nestled in the city's Meadowtown Shopping Centre with convenient access to ample parking, the store held it's grand opening on March 22nd with support and turnout from the Songhees Nations, local residents, cannabis LPs and brands, industry service providers, along with industry advocates.
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ABOVE - Seed and Stone (Pitt Meadows)
"Special thanks to the Pitt Meadows community for warmly welcoming our store and showing tremendous support at our grand opening. Your enthusiasm means the world to us as we embark on this journey together. We would like to entend our gratitude to the Songhees Nations for their partnership and support throughout the years, our dedicated LPs for all their love and support, and our exceptional team for making it all possible. Here's to many more milestones together, embracing the journey within" said Vikram Sachdeva, Founder and CEO of Seed and Stone.
ABLE BC is proud to support the growth of our Cannabis Retail Members and are please to see our Members expand into new and unique markets!
Do you own a cannabis retail store? Reach out to our Head of Cannabis Membership to learn how an ABLE BC Cannabis Membership can support your business.
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BC Takes Early Action to Prepare for Wildfire and Drought Season
The province is taking several early steps to prepare for wildfire and drought season, including working proactively with local governments and First Nations to help keep people and communities safe and informed.
As part of the Premier’s Expert Task Force on Emergencies, wildfire preparedness and support for evacuees has been enhanced, incorporating advanced wildfire predictive technologies, expanding the number of firefighting tools available to BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) crews and streamlining training for Emergency Support Services (ESS) responders.
Current forecasts show BC may experience an active spring wildfire season due to persistent drought conditions. This activity is expected to increase if there continues to be limited precipitation over the next several weeks and months.
During emergencies, information about evacuation orders and alerts will be shared by local governments and First Nations at Emergency Info BC.
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DutchLove Stores Assigned to Value Buds
Earlier this week, SNDL agreed to assign its' rights to own or operate four Dutch Love stores to Nova Cannabis in exchange for Nova's issued shares of $8.179 million.
In addition to being a cannabis LP, SNDL is also one of the largest private-sector liquor and cannabis retailer in Canada (Value Buds, Spiritleaf, and Firesale Cannabis). Meanwhile, Nova has 96 locations across Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, most of which are under the “Value Buds” retailer brand.
This deal is expected to close by the end of this month and would Nova Cannabis's first step into BC's cannabis retail marketplace.
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go2HR on Tap:
Managing Seasonal Layoffs with Compassion
go2HR is a regular contributor to the ABLE BC Liquor Industry Update newsletter, providing tips and guidance on current HR trends, new legislation, employee recruitment and retention, and more. To read the latest instalment, sign in to the member portal or sign up for the newsletter.
Handling seasonal layoffs can be challenging for employers. No one wants to be the bearer of bad news, but employers have to make the right choices fitting the needs of their business to ensure long-term health. This is especially true for small businesses, as they typically have lower volumes and cannot support as many employees year-round. Employers should be compassionate during layoffs, offering guidance and professional support to departing seasonal employees.
Regional HR Consultant, Christie Blaquiere shares somes tips and advice about handling seasonal layoffs with compassion:
Be sure to prepare all necessary documents and people,
Prepare for different, and possibly emotional, employee reactions,
Offer support to laid-off employees and help them find their next job opportunity,
Read more tips here.
Employers can also provide references or leverage their networks to find available positions that align with the employee’s interests. This strengthens the employer's connections while helping the employee find another career opportunity. Read the full article with more tips and advice on how to best handle seasonal layoffs on the go2HR website.
Christie Blaquiere is an HR Consultant for the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region. Do you have questions or need HR advice? Connect with our HR team for a free consultation.
go2HR, the HR and health and safety association for the BC Tourism and Hospitality Industry, has a wealth of free resources to support you. We invite you to connect with us to learn more about how you can support your employees at hr@go2HR.ca.
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Out and About with ABLE BC
Things have been ramping up for the ABLE BC team! Attending industry events, engaging government, and most importantly checking in with our Cannabis Retail Membership!
Make sure to sign up for our newsletter or follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn to stay in-the-know about all our upcoming events.
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Above - ABLE BC & Advisory Member Feven Berhane (KushKlub) speaks at a local industry event.
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Help Our Cannabis Advocacy! Join ABLE BC!
Do you own a cannabis retail store? Sign up now for an ABLE BC Cannabis Membership to support the work we do on your behalf.
As ABLE BC works to support BC’s cannabis retailers, we meet regularly with various officials at the LDB, LCRB, and with elected officials in the federal, provincial, and municipal government. With your support, we are making meaningful headway amending regulations and policies that support industry growth.
ABLE BC Cannabis Members have access to several benefit programs that offer exclusive discounts and are designed to help your business thrive. In addition to our benefit programs, we offer expert advice , regular webinars, and many networking opportunities.
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Copyright © 2024
BC's Alliance of Beverage Licensees (ABLE BC)
200 - 948 Howe Street, Vancouver, V6Z 1N9 Canada
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