Cannabis Industry Update---------------------------------------------------------
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Cannabis Industry Update:
May 8, 2024
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Dear ABLE BC cannabis members and industry colleagues,
Here's the latest news for the private cannabis industry:
- ABLE BC Monitoring MAP Inspection Rates
- Destigmatizing 420 Celebrations
- Third-Party Cannabis Delivery in BC
- Reminder: Minimum Wage Increases on June 1
- BC Government Modifies the Province's Decriminalization Policy
- Apply Today! Securing Small Business Rebate Program (updated)
- ABLE BC Webinar Recap: Provincial Efforts to Address Illicit Cannabis Operations
- go2HR on Tap: Celebrate Mental Health Week
- Member Spotlight: Local Cannabis Co.
- Celebrating 20 Years of ABLE BC!
- Out and About with ABLE BC
- Save the Date: Upcoming Events and Webinars
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ABLE BC Monitoring MAP Inspection Rates
ABLE BC’s government relations and advocacy work for cannabis retail members includes regular conversations with senior executives at the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) to ensure our members’ needs are heard and addressed.
Recently, we’ve heard concerns from cannabis retailers about the Minors as Agents Program (MAP) and whether government-run cannabis stores are held to the same inspection standards as private retailers. The LCRB attended a recent ABLE BC Board meeting and shared Memorandums of Understanding in place between the LCRB and the LDB that outline MAP inspections. We are pleased to report that these state clearly that government-run cannabis stores are held to the same inspection standards and frequency as private stores. There is no difference in fee schedule, fines, suspensions, or inspections.
We regularly monitor inspection rates to better understand compliance across private and government channels. And we are encouraged that our partners at the LCRB are honest and collaborative with us.
Here is the most recent data showing 2023 inspections:
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MAP is the LCRB’s tool for monitoring licensees’ compliance with the prohibition against selling cannabis and liquor to minors. Under MAP, minors employed by the LCRB and supervised by inspectors will enter licensed establishments to purchase cannabis or liquor. MAP inspections in private and government cannabis retail stores began in March 2023.
ABLE BC cannabis members have access to free due diligence resources, including ID checking guidance and educational webinars on topics like MAP and other inspections in the video library of the member portal.
If you have questions about the LCRB or MAP, reach out to Bo Chen, ABLE BC’s Head of Cannabis Memberships, at bo@ablebc.ca.
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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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Destigmatizing 420 Celebrations
The ABLE BC team attended two 420 events (in Vancouver and Prince George) this year. These events demonstrated contrasting public opinion on cannabis events and a need for further destigmatizing work.
Cannabis consumption events have long been stigmatized, but with legalization and an increase in responsible licensed operators who focus on educating customers, highlighting quality products, and safe consumption, public opinion is slowly changing.
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Picture courtesy of CTV News Vancouver
In Vancouver, the highly anticipated 420 festival on Sunset Beach never happened. This annual event is not sanctioned by the Vancouver Park Board, who closed washrooms and parking lots and fenced-off certain areas of Sunset Beach. Vendors and attendees were blocked from entering the festival area, leaving people confused and wandering. A similar event at Thornton Park was also shut down. With organized 420 events around Vancouver disrupted, would-be attendees relocated to Robson Square. This impromptu event lacked responsible oversight, and many attendees were issued fines or had cannabis products seized.
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The City of Prince George hosted a well-organized, responsible 420 event that was welcomed by city officials, local businesses, and residents. The 420 street party, part of the BC Craft Farmers Cannabis Summit, allowed both cannabis and non-cannabis vendors to showcase their offerings at a vibrant event reminiscent of a farmer’s market.
ABLE BC recognizes the important role that responsible cannabis events play in industry’s growth. We're advocating on behalf of our cannabis members for a new Special Event Permit (SEP) specific to cannabis events. ABLE BC successfully advocated for LRS businesses to be able to sell to SEP holders in 2021, opening a new revenue stream for our liquor retail members. We want to see the same opportunities for cannabis retailers. We also want to see more succesful event opportunities for cannabis operators. We look forward to bringing you updates on this in the future.
If you would like to share your perspective on cannabis events, reach out to Bo Chen at bo@ablebc.ca.
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Third-Party Cannabis Delivery in BC
Uber Eats has published its insights on cannabis trends in BC and Ontario. According to Uber Eats data, the top-five BC cities ordering cannabis delivery are:
- Victoria
- North Vancouver
- Vancouver
- Port Moody
- New Westminster
E-commerce and delivery play an increasingly important role for BC’s cannabis retailers, offering an additional revenue stream and access to new customers.
ABLE BC is encouraged to see third-party delivery platforms venture into the cannabis industry. We will continue to advocate for a diverse retail landscape that gives operators more options for reaching customers safely and responsibly.
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Reminder: Minimum Wage Increases on June 1
Minimum wage increases every year on June 1 based on the previous year’s average rate of inflation. This year, the minimum wage will increase to $17.40 an hour on June 1, 2024. This represents a 3.9% increase, consistent with BC’s 2023 inflation rate.
It's common for some retail businesses to increase all staff wages when the minimum increases. Others may only increase wages for staff earning the minimum. We trust that ABLE BC’s cannabis retail members will make the best wage increase decisions for their individual businesses. We encourage you to contact Bo Chen, Head of Cannabis Memberships, at bo@ablebc.ca if you have questions or concerns.
To learn more about wage trends for LRS businesses, ABLE BC members can access last year’s benchmark survey report for free in the member portal. Non-members can purchase this report in our online store for $25.
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BC Government Modifies the Province's Decriminalization Policy
Last week, Premier David Eby announced a significant change to BC’s decriminalization pilot project and is now banning all illicit drug use in public. This policy reversal came after a recent outcry from healthcare workers worried about patients using drugs in hospitals, as well as criticism from political leaders and concerns from businesses and citizens throughout BC.
“Keeping people safe is our highest priority. While we are caring and compassionate for those struggling with addiction, we do not accept street disorder that makes communities feel unsafe,” said Premier David Eby. “We’re taking action to make sure police have the tools they need to ensure safe and comfortable communities for everyone as we expand treatment options so people can stay alive and get better.”
This change does not recriminalize drug possession in private residences or legal shelters, overdose prevention sites, or drug checking locations. Instead, the new prohibition will give police the power to force people to stop using or leave the area if they are caught anywhere in public, including hospitals, restaurants, transit, parks and beaches.
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Apply Today! Securing Small Business Rebate Program (updated)
The Province has made changes to the Securing Small Business Rebate Program based on feedback received from the business community and cannabis retail owners. The BC Chamber of Commerce has re-opened the application portal and will accept applications until January 31, 2025.
Updates to the application process include:
- Removal of the requirement to provide proof of an insurance claim when applying for funding through the reparative stream of the program. Applicants are now required to simply provide the name of their insurance carrier and policy number.
- Permitting an applicant’s self-installation of reparative and/or preventative measures. If equipment is self-installed, the rebate will be for eligible equipment only and will not include the cost of internal labour.
- Removal of the requirement for the applicant to demonstrate there is vandalism in their community in order to be eligible for the preventative rebate.
- Removal of the application deadline of Feb. 29, 2024, for preventative and reparative applications in respect of crime and vandalism incidents that happened in 2023. Applications will now be accepted until the program ends in 2025.
For more details and FAQs, please visit the program webpage here. If you have questions not answered in the FAQs, please contact the BC Chamber of Commerce at ssbr@bcchamber.org.
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ABLE BC Webinar Recap: Provincial Efforts to Address Illicit Cannabis Operations
Thank you to everyone who attended last month's webinar with the Community Safety Unit (CSU) to learn more about their efforts to address illicit cannabis operations. Thank you to Meghan Oberg, CSU Deputy Director, and Matthew Brown, CSU Executive Director, for your presentation and thorough question and answer period.
If you missed this webinar, a recording is now available in the video library of the member portal. If you aren’t sure how to login to the member portal or if you aren’t a member yet and would like to sign up for access, please contact David Lough, Manager of Membership Services, at david@ablebc.ca.
We look forward to future collaboration with our partners at the CSU and bringing our cannabis members more educational events.
If you have any questions for ABLE BC or the CSU, please send them to ABLE's Head of Cannabis Membership, Bo Chen, at bo@ablebc.ca.
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go2HR on Tap: Celebrate Mental Health Week
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.
At go2HR we’re proud of our ongoing partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division (CMHA BC). Together we provide industry-specific mental health resources, support, and training programs to the tourism and hospitality industry. From May 6 to 10, we’re celebrating CMHA Mental Health Week, and we encourage all industry employers to participate by prioritizing their employees' mental health and wellbeing.
The Importance of Psychological Health & Safety (PH&S) In Tourism and Hospitality
In tourism and hospitality, excellent customer service is essential. Understanding psychological health and safety (PH&S) in your workplace is equally important. Assessing your workplace for psychological safety is the first step towards creating a culture of care where employees feel supported and valued.
Taking care of your employee’s mental health and well-being isn’t just the right thing to do; it also leads to a more positive experience for your employees, your customers, and your business.
A Call to be Kind: This Year’s CMHA Mental Health Week Theme
This year’s CMHA Mental Health Week focuses on the healing power of compassion. The theme A Call to be Kind encourages employers to build compassionate workplaces. This means supporting employees, learning to check in on them, recognizing signs of stress, anxiety, and struggle, and showing genuine concern when reaching out to those who might be struggling.
These are just a few ways employers can be a support system. For more ideas on how to share care and build a psychologically safe workplace, access go2HR’s resources. It’s the perfect first step to raising awareness about mental health and wellbeing in the workplace during Mental Health Week.
Questions about psychological health and safety or need advice? Reach out to our Workplace PH&S Consultant 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 cannabis retailers. 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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Member Spotlight: Local Cannabis Co.
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Local Cannabis Co. is unquestionably dedicated to their customers, prioritizing the shopper experience and attending to individual customer needs.
Both locations (Vancouver and Parksville) feature wide array of quality, local products including flower, pre-rolls, edibles, oils, concentrates, and more.
Whether you’re looking for the best prices, a new favourite product, or you have cannabis questions, Local Cannabis Co. is ready to help!
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Celebrating 20 Years of ABLE BC!
2024 is a big year for ABLE BC! While our history stretches back nearly 50 years to 1975, ABLE BC as it is known today was incorporated in March 2004. Since our founding, we’ve been at the forefront of every major policy conversation affecting our members. Since in 2018, we've brought our success for the private liquor industry to licensed cannabis retailers.
This is an exciting milestone that we look forward to celebrating with our cannabis and liquor members!
Join us for a fun night of celebration, networking with industry colleagues and government officials, tasty drinks and eats, and a pub quiz from IQ 2000 Trivia!
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Party Details:
- Date: Thursday, June 6, 2024
- Time: 5:00 pm-9:00 pm
- Location: The Junction Pub, 1138 Davie Street, Vancouver
- Cost: Free for members! Log in to the member portal to register at no cost. Non-members may register for $25.
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Out and About with ABLE BC
On a recent trip to the island to meet with our partners at the LCRB, Bo Chen, ABLE BC's Head of Cannabis Memberships, made sure to visit a few of our members around Victoria. The island has a great community of cannabis retailers, which we are excited to see grow!
For 420, Bo headed up to Prince George to check out the BC Craft Farmers Cannabis Summit. This was an outstanding event that brought vibrancy to the community and demonstrated the bright future for cannabis events here in BC. Bo visited with members in the area to hear directly from the cannabis industry about the issues that matter most. While Bo was in Prince George, Jeff Guignard, ABLE BC's Executive Director, headed over to Sunset Beach for the would-be 420 celebration there (more on that above).
Looking to learn more about ABLE BC’s cannabis work? Reach out to Bo at bo@ablebc.ca to set up a meeting!
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Top left: Bo with Flight Cannabis staff. Top right: Jeff Guignard with Andy from AR Cannabis at KIND. Bottom left: Yvan Charette with Seed & Stone Founder Vikram Sachdeva. Bottom right: Prince George retailer Epik
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Save the Date: Upcoming Events and Webinars
Check out these upcoming events:
- WORTH Leadership Summit, Vancouver, May 13
- ABLE BC’s 20th Anniversary Party, Vancouver, June 6
- Tether Budtender Sampling Event, Kelowna, June 9
- StratCann: Growing Relationships, Kelowna, June 10
- BCHF Vancouver Golf Tournament, Vancouver, July 5
- Hi Point Wellness Retreat, Duncan, July 5-7
- Boro & Beyond Community Pop-Up Port Moody, July 20
- The Rosebud Bowl at The Unicorn Music Festival, Salmo, August 9-12
- BCHF Victoria Golf Tournament, Victoria, August 21
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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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