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BC Cannabis Stores Coming To Community Near You

Apr 26, 2018 | 12:00 PM

The BC government has tabled three bills that outline how recreational marijuana will be regulated, once it becomes legal in Canada later this year.

Solicitor General Mike Farnworth says the goals include protecting children, priorizing public health and safety, and keeping roads safe.

He says changes to the Motor Vehicle Act will deter drug affected driving and give police new tools.

“We’ve created a new 90 day administrative driving prohibition for drug affected driving, and we’ve expanded the current zero tolerance restrictions for the presence of alcohol for drivers in the graduated licensing program to also include zero tolerance for the presence of THC,” Farnworth told a news conference.

Farnworth says a new community safety unit will target illegal sellers.

He says the BC Legislature will next debate and review the proposed legislation, with no definite timeline for when sales will start.

“I know there is much interest in when non medical cannabis will be legal, but that decision is still up the federal government.”

Logo for public retail stores in BC

The province says the brand name for the public stores that will sell retail and online products will be “BC Cannabis Stores,” expected to open by the end of the summer.

Expect to see BC Cannabis Stores once recreational marijuana is legalized in Canada later this year.

The BC Liquor Distribution Branch says that will be the brand name for the public stores, and the online retail store, that sell non medical marijuana.

The province says the name and brand align with the BC Liquor Stores brand, and will be featured on store signage and printed materials.

The branch expects to open the first government-operated retail store, and to offer online sales to the public, by the end of this summer.

Retail stores — both government and private — will only be permitted to sell a maximum of 30 grams of dried cannabis, or its equivalent in oil, to an individual at one time.