The provincial government released updated details Monday afternoon around the roll-out of legalized, non-medical cannabis in July.
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth will address the media at 1:30 p.m., but here are some key takeaways in the meantime:
Retail framework:
- B.C. residents over the age of 19 will be able to buy cannabis through both private and public sector retailers and online government sales.
- B.C.’s Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) will operate a new standalone network of public retail stores and the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) will be responsible for licensing private stores and monitoring the retail sector.
- Licensed retailers will not be able to sell cannabis in the same stores as liquor or tobacco
- The province will launch an early registration process for all residents and businesses seeking a cannabis retails.
- No cap will be placed on the amount of retail licenses made available and individual municipalities will have input around the licenses being issued.
Personal public possession
- Those over the age of 19 will be allowed to possess up to 30 grams. Residents under 19 will be prohibited from possessing any non-medical cannabis.
- Cannabis transported in a motor vehicle will need to be in a sealed package, or inaccessible to vehicle occupants.
Places of use
- Cannabis use in any form — medical or not — will be banned for all occupants in vehicles.
- The province will “generally” allow non-medical cannabis use the same public spaces where vaping and cigarettes are allowed.
- Non-medical cannabis will be banned in areas frequented by children: community beaches, parks and playgrounds.
- Local governments will be able to set additional restrictions, as they do now for tobacco use.
- Landlords and strata councils will be able to restrict or prohibit non-medical cannabis smoking and vaping at tenanted and strata properties.
Personal cultivation
- Up to four cannabis plants per household will be allowed.
- Plants must not be visible from public spaces off the property.
- Land strata councils will be able restrict or prohibit home cultivation.
Drug-impaired driving
- Impaired driving rules in place now will continue to be applied in cases of non-medical cannabis use
- A new 90-day administrative driving prohibition (ADP) for drug-affected driving will be introduced.
- The current zero-tolerance restrictions for the presence of alcohol for drivers in the Graduated Licensing Program (GLP) will be expanded to include zero tolerance for the presence of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis.
More to come.
