First of a series on the preservation of a 91裸聊视频榗raft cannabis91裸聊视频� industry in B.C.

In the bad old days, B.C. used to supply half of Canada91裸聊视频檚 marijuana, export it to the United States by the hockey bag, and bring home a bong-full of blue ribbons for its exotic 91裸聊视频淏.C. bud91裸聊视频� strains from international Cannabis Cup competitions in Amsterdam.

Premier John Horgan argues that this history is the main reason why legal marijuana has fizzled so far in B.C., a year into Prime Minister Justin Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 bold legalization experiment. Horgan91裸聊视频檚 government is moving to take over the 91裸聊视频渆conomic development91裸聊视频� part of legal cannabis from Ottawa, because its ponderous Health Canada licence system for growers is working great for mass-market producers in Ontario and Quebec. And it91裸聊视频檚 killing B.C. bud.

The Central Kootenay around Nelson B.C. is ground zero for Horgan91裸聊视频檚 experiment, economic development grants to subsidize and guide illegal growers from the dark side to the light. The $676,000 project is funded by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, and administered by Community Futures Central Kootenay.

Energy Minister Michelle Mungall, who holds the Nelson-Creston seat for the NDP, was quoted in a low-circulation , applauding the grant91裸聊视频檚 potential to help growers navigate the federal-provincial-municipal regulations. Kootenay West MLA Katrine Conroy, another NDP cabinet minister, has expressed her concern that Canada91裸聊视频檚 wave of stock-market-backed mega-producers is a grave threat to her local economy.

Social Development Min explains why gets the first economic grant for its growers

91裸聊视频� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)

Social Development Minister Shane Simpson says this is his ministry91裸聊视频檚 first cannabis-related business venture, and it was a grassroots idea. If it works for the Kootenays, it could work for the Okanagan or the Sunshine Coast, Simpson says.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e seen what91裸聊视频檚 happened with the craft beer industry in British Columbia,91裸聊视频� Simpson said in an interview with Black Press. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 exploded and become an important part of the local economies in communities right across the province. It91裸聊视频檚 possible that there could be that same craft aspect to the production of cannabis. 91裸聊视频淓verybody talks about B.C. Bud and the reputation it has, so if we can build a craft industry that91裸聊视频檚 legal, that91裸聊视频檚 regulated appropriately, then that91裸聊视频檚 a good thing.91裸聊视频�

PART TWO:

PART THREE:

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B.C.91裸聊视频檚 main legal effort is a monopoly wholesaler run by the Liquor Distribution Branch, with a monopoly online store and a scattering of government-owned retail stores, a few licensed private retailers and a ragtag of unlicensed stores and private dealers. Some insiders estimate that the 91裸聊视频済rey market91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频渂lack market91裸聊视频� ragtag still holds 80 per cent of the B.C. market.

Large-scale licensed national producers, the Budweiser and Coors Light of cannabis, have been noted for missed targets, regulatory cheating, and a shortage followed by a glut of overpriced product, some of it getting mouldy sitting in the warehouse.

Horgan says he91裸聊视频檚 well aware that most of the product Health Canada has made legal for recreational sales is from other provinces. And he recalls telling the Trudeau government well before legalization that B.C. would make its own way on business development.

91裸聊视频淭he federal government said 91裸聊视频榳e91裸聊视频檒l take care of economic development91裸聊视频�, and we just disagreed with them on that, and we continue to disagree with them on that,91裸聊视频� Horgan told reporters at the B.C. legislature Nov. 28. 91裸聊视频淲e have in B.C. a legendary quality product, and that91裸聊视频檚 not making its way to the legal market.91裸聊视频�

BC Premier explains the struggle of making legal in the land of

91裸聊视频� Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc)

The jokes about the B.C. NDP somehow l are no longer funny. It91裸聊视频檚 a fact. In her second-quarter budget update, Finance Minister Carole James reported that forecast for B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch income has been lowered $18 million 91裸聊视频渄ue to the delayed rollout of private and public cannabis stores and lower-than-anticipated demand.91裸聊视频�

Federal excise tax from cannabis, the dollar-a-gram first take for recreational product, is split three quarters for the province and one quarter for Ottawa. The latest forecast downgraded B.C.91裸聊视频檚 share for the current fiscal year from $38 million to $8 million. Policing and other costs are coming in higher than budgeted.

Horgan acknowledges that the problem is the black market is still here, and the 91裸聊视频済rey market91裸聊视频� that worked through medical dispensaries and compassion clubs, is greatly endangered. One disadvantage is price, with Statistics Canada estimating that legal cannabis is running close to $10 a gram, while illegal product is selling for half that.

Quebec-based Hexo Corp. has a plan for that, and it91裸聊视频檚 more bad news for 91裸聊视频渃raft cannabis91裸聊视频� in B.C. Hexo has launched a budget product for national sales called 91裸聊视频淥riginal Stash.91裸聊视频� It91裸聊视频檚 only sold in the old-school 28-gram or one-ounce bag, at $4.99 a gram.

Next part: A craft cannabis grower navigates the regulatory system.

tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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