Cannabis Industry Update: August, 30 2023

Dear ABLE BC Members and Industry Colleagues,

Here’s what you’ll find in today’s update: 

  • Notes from Nick

  • Advocacy Update

  • Industry Update

  • Introducing go2HR on Tap: HR Tips for Cannabis and Liquor Businesses

  • Member Spotlight: Yellowhead Cannabis

  • Out and About with ABLE BC

Find all past updates here.

Notes from Nick 

Recently, I sat in on a Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) Enforcement Hearing regarding an infraction under the Minors as Agents Program (MAP)—the LCRB’s tool for monitoring compliance with the prohibition against selling liquor and cannabis to minors.

For a license holder, participating in an Enforcement Hearing causes significant stress and anxiety. In most cases, infractions are dealt with informally by Inspectors and the retailer collaborating to remedy the issue and bring the retailer back into compliance. However, the importance of preventing the sale of cannabis to minors means any MAP infraction will result in an Enforcement Hearing.

Hiring an experienced professional to present your case can be costly, yet penalties that can be imposed for infractions will significantly impact a business. Should you require advice from a licensing consultant or lawyer, please contact me directly at nick@ablebc.ca and I can recommend one of ABLE BC’s expert partners who offer discounted rates to our members.

 I am also pleased to announce that ABLE and the LCRB are partnering in a joint webinar on the MAP initiative. Our goal is to help licensees better understanding their responsibilities and best practices for preventing sales to minors.

We will also be joined on the webinar by an expert licensing consultant who will discuss due diligence resources for your business.

This webinar is free for ABLE BC members! Simply login to the member portal to register now.

Non-members may attend for $10. 

Not a member yet?  Sign up today to gain free access to this webinar and all other ABLE BC resources.

 Advocacy Update

 On August 16, the LCRB announced it is reviewing the number of licenses a cannabis retailer can hold. Currently, regulations limit retailers to a maximum of eight stores. Our Head of Cannabis Membership, Nick Landells, is seeking your feedback before submitting comments to the LCRB.

If you would like speak with Nick about this, book a meeting or email nick@ablebc.ca by September 8, 2023.

Industry Update

The LCRB recently issued the first license for a farm-gate store. The Producer Retail Store Licence (PRS) allows federally licensed cultivators to run a store at their production facility and sell products to consumers directly. PRS licence holders can either sell a wide selection of products like other cannabis stores or sell only their own products.

Despite the LCRB accepting applications since October 2022 there have been only two PRS applications. This may be explained by the high financial barriers to entry and the reality that many producers are in remote rural areas. These factors make it challenging for retail stores at producer facilities to be a sustainable business model.

 As Daryn Medwid of West Blvd Cannabis recently told ABLE:

 “The current PRS system is too costly for small cultivators and requires them, once approved, to invest even more dollars fixturing a retail space and hiring staff. Given the current economic situation for most cultivators, this is asking too much when they are struggling to survive. If processors were added to the PRS system, every small cultivator that uses a processor to package would have a new source of revenue and brand building opportunities without having to invest in improved infrastructure and headcount. This could also potentially take pressure off the Liquor Distribution Branch as they would need to manage and deliver fewer SKUs.”

 ABLE supports expanding the eligibility criteria for a PRS to include federally licensed cannabis processors and will be speaking with the LCRB to try and bring about this change.

Introducing go2HR on Tap: HR Tips for Cannabis and Liquor Businesses

We are pleased to announce that go2HR will be a regular contributor to the ABLE BC Cannabis Industry Update newsletter! You can expect to see future articles on HR trends, new legislation, employee recruitment and retention tips, and more. Missed an article? Check out the member portal for each edition of go2HR on Tap.

It’s that time again – another one of BC’s legislated statutory holidays is just around the corner! Monday, September 4th is Labour Day, a day off to rest and celebrate our workers. But for some, it is a day of work. For those who must work on a statutory holiday, there are a few rules around employees’ pay and eligibility requirements.

Not all employees are entitled to statutory holiday pay. Employees must be employed for at least 30 calendar days before the statutory holiday and have either:

 Worked or earned wages for 15 of the 30 calendar days preceding the holiday; or

Worked under an averaging agreement at any time within the 30 calendar days preceding the holiday. 

Eligible employees who are scheduled to work on a statutory holiday, regardless of whether the statutory holiday falls on the employee’s regularly scheduled day off, are entitled to a combination of:

  • one-and-one-half times their regular wage for the time worked up to 12 hours;

  • double their regular wage for any time worked over 12 hours; and

  • an average day’s pay.

Employees who do not meet the eligibility requirements and work on a statutory holiday are only entitled to their regular pay for that day. For more detailed information visit go2HR_statutory holidays.

View Statutory Holidays in BC for a complete list of the specific dates in 2023 for each of the statutory holidays in BC.

Questions? Reach out to go2HR's HR Consultants for free advice at hr@go2HR.ca. go2HR is the Human Resources and Health and Safety Association for BC’s tourism and hospitality industry

Member Spotlight

We are pleased to announce Yellowhead Cannabis as a new cannabis member of ABLE. 

Located in Kamloops, Yellowhead Cannabis are proud be a provincially licensed retailer operating on First Nations Territory. As a locally owned business, they have deep roots and unwavering commitment to the community they serve.

 Their passionate and knowledgeable team helps Yellowhead Cannabis create the friendly atmosphere that extends to every customer who walks through their doors.

Out and About with ABLE 

This week, the ABLE BC team has been in Victoria for the BC Hospitality Foundation Golf Tournament at Olympic View Golf Course. It's no surprise that the tournament was a super fun day! We love getting out with our members and our community to support a wonderful charity. Thank you to the BCHF team for your hard work putting on a great event, and to the golfers and sponsors for supporting a much-needed industry resource! 

Ann Brydle