Cannabis Membership Renewals, Secretariat, Burb Store for Sale, and More ! ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
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Cannabis Industry Update: April 9 , 2025 |
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Dear ABLE BC cannabis members and industry colleagues,
Here's the latest news for the private cannabis industry: - Jeff Guignard Stepping Down as Executive Director
- Advocacy Update – Cannabis Recommendations for BC Ministry of Tourism
- Shaping BC’s Cannabis Policies: New Survey & Townhall for ABLE BC Cannabis Members
- BC Eliminates Carbon Tax
- New Government Resources to Support BC Businesses
- Advocacy Win! BC LDB Reduces Direct Delivery Reporting
- Member Spotlight: Pacificanna
- Everything You Need to Know About Cannabis Insurance
- ABLE BC Has a New Address! Update Your Records
- BC CRIME STOPPERS: Illicit Cannabis
- Health Canada Seeking CBD Feedback: NHP and Pets
- Ask an Expert: Unlock Big Savings with Foodbuy
- go2HR on Tap: Onboarding Tips for Your Business
- Out and About with ABLE BC
- Save the Date: Upcoming Events and Webinars
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| Jeff Guignard Stepping Down as Executive Director |
After 11 amazing years, Jeff Guignard has announced he will be stepping down as ABLE BC’s Executive Director. Jeff is leaving to assume the role of President and CEO of Wine Growers BC . In a statement released last week Jeff said: Leading ABLE BC has been the honour of my career. Since 2014, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside a dedicated Board of Directors, passionate members, and industry leaders who care deeply about the future of BC’s liquor, hospitality, and cannabis sectors. Together, we’ve navigated complex challenges, championed policy reforms, and strengthened the voice of independent businesses across the province. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to ABLE BC’s Board, past and present, for your trust and leadership. To our members: your resilience and commitment have inspired me every day. It’s been my privilege to fight for you, to amplify your concerns, and to help shape an industry that’s integral to BC’s economy and communities. Thank you, ABLE BC, for an unforgettable journey. This isn’t goodbye—our paths will cross again, and I’ll always be cheering for your success. According to ABLE BC President Yvan Charette, “Jeff’s leadership over the past 11 years has been invaluable. He steered us through the pandemic, a BCGEU strike, changing governments, and achieved dozens of significant policy changes that supported our industry. While we’ll certainly miss him, the Board and I are grateful for everything he’s accomplished. He's also left us in a strong position to continue advocating for BC’s hospitality, liquor retail, and cannabis retail industries.” " Yvan, Jeff, and the Board of Directors are meeting next week to finalize a transition plan and will share more information with members shortly. During this transition phase, ABLE BC’s Head of Cannabis Membership, Bo Chen will continue to advocate industry priorities and work with government partners. On behalf of the entire ABLE BC community: thank you, Jeff, for your extraordinary leadership, dedication, and impact. We wish you the very best in this next chapter. |
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People
Working Well The Canadian Mental Health Association has created a resource hub for employers and employees dealing with mental health challenges at work. |
| Cannabis Industry Update Newsletter Sign up for our Cannabis Industry Update Newsletter to learn more about our advocacy for liquor businesses. Click here to read past liquor newsletters. |
| ABLE BC Member Portal The Member Portal is your hub for all resources and benefits available to ABLE BC members. Contact jesse@ablebc.ca if you need help logging in. |
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Advocacy Update – Cannabis Recommendations for BC Ministry of Tourism |
Last month, ABLE BC met with BC’s Tourism Minister Spencer Chandra Herbert for a round table meeting regarding the province’s tourism and hospitality sector. In our discussion, we emphasized the untapped contribution that cannabis tourism brings to BC’s economy and shared insights on the challenges that legal cannabis businesses currently face. Following the meeting, ABLE BC submitted recommendations to the Ministry focused on: - helping industry prepare for international experiences such as FIFA 2026 fast-tracking current regulatory projects to allow sales of legal cannabis products at public events (including launching pilot programs in summer 2025);
- Develop a framework for cannabis consumption lounges and hospitality spaces; and
- Reduce or eliminate BC’s restrictions on marketing and promoting legal cannabis businesses.
ABLE BC will continue to bring updates on this front as our advocacy work progresses. Please contact bo@ablebc.ca if you have questions. |
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Shaping BC’s Cannabis Policies: New Survey & Townhall for ABLE BC Cannabis Members |
As ABLE BC’s Cannabis Membership continues to unite (representing over 100 stores in BC), we are preparing the next set of engagement work with membership on advocacy priorities such as perspectives on: - BC’s market controls;
- on-going government regulatory projects;
- and streamlining existing cannabis policies.
Keep an eye on your inbox for further communication on an upcoming townhall and new survey for members. Not sure if your business is a part of ABLE BC Membership? Contact bo@ablebc.ca |
BC Eliminates Carbon Tax Effective April 1, 2025, the B.C. government has eliminated the provincial carbon tax, removing approximately 17 cents per litre from fuel costs and 15 cents per cubic metre from natural gas. The province says this move is intended to improve affordability for British Columbians and businesses while still holding major polluters accountable through the output-based carbon pricing system. For BC businesses with high fuel or energy needs, the change should help reduce operating costs. The final Climate Action Tax Credit will be issued in April 2025. |
New Government Resources to Support BC Businesses BC's Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation (JEDI) has prepared resources to assist the business sector during these challenging times. At the same time, they are looking to hear from you. Whether you have concerns, questions, or suggestions, they encourage you to reach out and share them. - Learn more about B.C. and Canada's Response to U.S. Tariffs HERE.
- Learn more about the Government of Canada's framework and process for considering requests for tariff relief and/or refunds on certain goods from the U.S. HERE.
- Please feel free to reach out to at Minister@gov.bc.ca with your input.
- You can also connect with Ministry Offices and staff HERE.
- For more information on B.C.’s response to the unjust U.S. tariffs, please CLICK HERE.
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Advocacy Win! BC LDB Reduces Direct Delivery Reporting To help reduce administrative burdens on cannabis producers participating in the direct delivery program, BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) announced that starting in May 2025, cannabis sales and returns reporting requirements for the program will be reduced to a monthly basis instead of bi-weekly reports. Read the full announcement HERE ABLE BC values the important relationship between our cannabis retail members and diverse quality producers in BC. We commend the initiatives of the BC Cannabis Alliance in its’ advocacy work on behalf of BC’s craft cannabis producers and our government partners at the BC LDB to streamline this change. Director Jeff Ring at BC LDB Cannabis Operations commented to ABLE BC on this change: " The BC Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) values constructive feedback from Industry, and is pleased to enact an amendment that will ease administrative efforts for participating licensed producers in a way that also works with the LDB’s reporting cadence." And according to Alannah Davis, Founder of BC Cannabis Alliance and CEO of Dabble Cannabis: “ We are happy to see any progress of change for the industry toward reducing administrative burden. We appreciated that BC LDB listened to the needs of the small producers that this program was designed for and worked with us to align with our federal reporting timelines.” |
Member Spotlight: Pacificanna |
[pacificanna.ca]  |
In this edition of ABLE BC Cannabis Member Spotlight, we are proud to feature a family business with locations throughout Victoria on Vancouver Island! [pacificanna.ca]Pacificanna has been in retail and hospitality for over 35 years. They are approachable (the type of store you can bring your mother’s mother to) and believes in community and value the people in it. Their main goal is to always provide you with the quality cannabis products you’re looking for. Each and every time, Pacificanna strives to enrich their customers’ lives every day by curating the perfect cannabis experience - focusing on education, social connection, and improving well-being by offering cannabis products and brands people know and trust. Pacificanna's Mission Statement? "To provide an open, welcoming, and approachable retail experience where anyone can feel like family. We are your friendly, neighbourhood experts, and cannabis market partners that you can trust to guide you to the right cannabis products that support the way you work, live, and play" Click Below to follow Pacificanna on socials ! |
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Everything You Need to Know About Cannabis Insurance |
Did you know Western Financial Group has exclusive offers for ABLE BC Cannabis Members? Commercial insurance solutions and affordable options covering areas such as: - Property (Building, Equipment, Stock, Tenants Improvements)
- Business Interruption (Actual Loss Sustained vs. Profits)
- Crime (Employee Dishonesty, Broad Form Money, Loss Inside Premises, Burglary, Liability (Bodily Injury, Property Damage, Personal Injury)
- Equipment Breakdown
- Key coverages for cannabis retail (stock spoilage, crime/theft, and consequential loss)
Curious about insurance coverage for your cannabis business? Contact bo@ablebc.ca. |
ABLE BC Has a New Address! Update Your Records ABLE BC has a new home! We’re still in Vancouver but have relocated to 970 -1050 W Pender St, Vancouver, BC V6E 3S7. Make sure to update your records with ABLE BC’s new address. We share space with the BC Hotel Association and the Tourism Industry Association of BC . We look forward to hosting you in our new office! |
BC CRIME STOPPERS: Illicit Cannabis |
Last week ABLE BC met with BC Crime Stoppers to discuss perspectives on illicit cannabis in BC. BC Crime Stoppers has undertaken public awareness campaigns educating the public that purchasing contraband cigarettes funds criminal organizations, which brings violence to our communities. These campaigns have reached over 11 million British Columbians. BC Crime Stoppers recognizes similarities between contraband tobacco and illegal cannabis. Criminal organizations are deeply involved in trafficking contraband tobacco and illegal cannabis - a significant underground industry that threatens community safety and our local economy. These criminal organizations use complex networks that span international borders and engage in widespread criminal activities including contraband tobacco, illegal cannabis, drug trafficking, human smuggling, gun smuggling, and money laundering. From information BC Crime Stoppers has accumulated, they observed that the lack of contaminant testing in illicit cannabis poses a significant risk to the consumer health and that the illicit market’s financial ties to organized crime activities is a public safety concern. |
Health Canada Seeking CBD Feedback: NHP and Pets Health Canada is looking for industry’s input on the Science Advisory Committee’s proposal to amend existing federal regulations to permit sale of natural health products (NHPs) and non-prescription veterinary products containing CBD. The goal of this engagement is to evaluate whether these types of products would be better sold as a prescription or non-prescription channels to protect the health and safety of Canadians and animals. The closing date for this round of feedback is June 5, 2025 |
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Ask an Expert: Unlock Big Savings with Foodbuy Until April 30th, join Foodbuy and receive $400 toward your ABLE BC membership fee. Foodbuy leverages group purchasing to offers members unbeatable savings and rebates on thousands of food and non-food products and services. Why join? - Easy sign-up , no cost, no term memberships
- Savings and rebates on 36,000+ SKUs from 450+ suppliers
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To start saving today, email martin.brochu@foodbuy.ca |
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go2HR on Tap: Onboarding Tips for Your Business go2HR is a regular contributor to the ABLE BC Cannabis 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 . A new employee’s first day can be nerve-wracking, but it’s also a prime opportunity for employers to make a great first impression. In today’s competitive labor market, a strong onboarding process not only sets employees up for success but also strengthens your employer brand—helping attract and retain skilled workers. Onboarding, sometimes called orientation, is the process of introducing new hires to your workplace and their role. Depending on the size and complexity of your business, it can last anywhere from a day to several months. Regardless of the duration, here are a few tips to make it effective: - Connect Before Day One: Reach out before their start date to confirm details like start time, person they will be meeting, access procedures, and parking/transit options. It’s also best to have the employment contract signed in advance.
- Plan for a Smooth First Day: Give them a tour, introduce key team members, complete any paperwork, and assign a buddy to help them settle in.
- Set Clear Expectations: Provide an overview of company policies, their role, training plan, performance expectations, reporting structure, and health & safety guidelines.
- Follow Up Regularly: Check in with new employees at regular intervals to answer questions, provide feedback, and ensure they feel supported
A little planning goes a long way in making new employees feel welcome and prepared. Use this tip sheet to create a structured, positive onboarding experience that sets your team up for long-term success! go2HR , the HR and health and safety association for the BC Tourism and Hospitality Industry, has a wealth of free resources to support cannabis retailers. We invite you to connect with us to learn more about how you can support your employees with health and safety at safety@go2HR.ca . |
Out and About with ABLE BC In case you missed it, ABLE BC appeared in the following media recently: ABLE BC members and industry colleagues were also featured in these articles: |
Save the Date: Upcoming Events and Webinars Check out these upcoming events: |
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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