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Corporatized Cannabis

Will BC's Cannabis Culture Prosper or Fade? How Will the Answer Affect Our Communities

It's official. Canada is set to legalize recreational cannabis on October 17, a Wednesday. Perhaps it should be called BC Craft Bud Day in celebration of the growers and distributors and medical dispensaries and users who, over decades, have created a successful cannabis culture.

Canada is to be commended for its turn away from prohibition toward a realistic engagement with cannabis. Though the federal government's failure to incorporate British Columbia's vast store of knowledge and experience, political processes and the laws that follow are dynamic processes. Evolutionary

To better understand both the good and bad news about this historic transition, we had a long conversation with Laurie Weitzel, President/Owner—Earth's Own Naturals Ltd., a licensed medical cannabis dispensary. We had  lots of questions:

How will implementation of the new law affect her business? and her customers? Will she be able to access all of the products her clients rely on? (no, in short) how will the change affect BC's multi-billion dollar cannabis trade? Will large corporations consolidate the business and eliminate small growers and retailers? Is big pharma going to take over the whole project? What will happen to the rich biological crop diversity developed over decades? Will tolerance of a gray market shift to rigid enforcement against a black market? What will happen to the thousands of people working in the trade? Who benefits? Who loses? ...

 

And, ultimately, what can we do to assure that the cannabis trade in all its parts evolves in a way that benefits our communities? Our conversation with Laurie is in two parts below.

During our latest conversation with Kimberley Mayor Don McCormick, we raised some of these questions with him. His responses are also below.

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Related Items

Who’s Using—Pre-legalization • Usage by young people are a big part of the rationale for the new regulations • Can’t speak to the ultimate quality of their work, but these people present bunches of information • The BC governments “discussion paper” on legalization • and, a discussion of BC’s “approach” • and, a report on “public and stakeholder engagement” • and, the implementation in BC • and the current plan for distribution in BC •
Many Psychedelics Share This Common Trait — And It Will Literally Change The Way You Think (there is preliminary evidence that cannabis can be useful in treating some depressions) •
Local and Provincial Chambers of Commerce are doing their part •
“The Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries (CAMCD), is an industry initiative created to regulate, promote, and advocate for cannabis dispensaries.” (from the organization’s website)
One of the major concerns about legalization is impaired driving. One of the benefits of legalizations is the vastly expanded opportunity to conduct science-based research, e.g., this •
An example of the ongoing discussion • A snapshot of political infighting as C-45 moved through parliament • One attempt to separate fact and fiction regarding cannabis use and regulation • a sampling of the grow culture • American advocates for sanity who are likely to benefit from Canada’s experiment • There’s the problem of the criminal records of people whose crime is no longer a crime. The poor and dark-skinned have been disproportionately targeted. One estimate for Canada is half a million people. • Symbolically, an amnesty might start with the Prime Minister •

a bit of perspective • We’re not in Kansas Anymore • Will Britain learn from Canada? probably not soon •
One suggestion regarding BC’s Agricultural Land Reserve •

an academic panel (at Harvard University) on “Marijuana: The Latest Scientific Findings and Legalization” (58 minutes) •
Colorado is frequently cited as jurisdiction from which we can learn, along with California's experience •
One view of what will happen in BC (the included video features the national government relations director for Aurora Cannabis … a hint at the role of large corporations in the formulation of C-45) •
a look at the corporate/investor side & this as well •
One (among many) paranoid (we hope) view of what will happen in BC & this: "10 Statements about the LPs to Boil Your Blood" •
a bit about the growers • an overview of the cannabis market in Canada & BC & a simple comparison • a shifting market? • career planning? •

From the Globe & Mail • Americans look longingly North

Canada now assumes leadership role as the largest nation to have legalized cannabis. California still remains the largest governmental entity within whose domain cannabis is legal. We'll hope they learn from each other as well as from British Columbia.

BC Craft Bud Day — October 17, a Wednesday

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