Canada is going to run out of legal marijuana soon after recreational sales are legalized next year if it depends only on federally licensed medical growers, say directors of the newly formed B.C. Independent Cannabis Association.

The association to the B.C. government Friday, as the NDP government consults local governments and the public about the looming federal deadline to legalize retail marijuana sales. It recommends that B.C. 91裸聊视频渁void the central warehousing of fresh cannabis91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频渕ake space for private distribution and retail within the legal framework.91裸聊视频�

The 91裸聊视频渂est actors from the current illicit industry91裸聊视频� should be invited to operate under the new regulations, which B.C. has to have in place by next July 1 to control wholesale distribution and retail sales, says the submission.

After talks with other provinces and the federal government, B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said he is leaning towards a combination of provincial control and incorporating some of the locally licensed dispensaries that have popped up in B.C. communities. B.C. is crucial since it produces an estimated 70 per cent of Canada91裸聊视频檚 cannabis.

Two of the association91裸聊视频檚 directors spoke to Black Press. Travis Lane, founder of The Internet Dispensary and long-time grower, said B.C.91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渃raft cannabis91裸聊视频� industry is world renowned, and communities would soon feel the hit if the federal and provincial governments force supply to be centralized in a few industrial operations.

Lane said it91裸聊视频檚 clear that if underground producers are shut out, 91裸聊视频渢here91裸聊视频檚 not going to be a gram of legal cannabis left in Canada at the end of July.91裸聊视频� He doesn91裸聊视频檛 expect the home of B.C. Bud to do that. He predicts it will follow the example of VQA wines and B.C. craft breweries in its licensing system.

91裸聊视频淚 expect the B.C. government to come up with public-private partnership similar to what91裸聊视频檚 been happening with the loosening of the liquor laws,91裸聊视频� Lane said. 91裸聊视频淚 think we91裸聊视频檙e going to see, where there are cities with a long-standing dispensary economy, those good-acting dispensaries are going to be allowed into the retail marketplace.91裸聊视频�

Courtland Sandover-Sly is chairman of the new association. He is a financial advisor and insurance broker for a dozen dispensaries, and says he was the first in North America to arrange a benefits plan for cannabis dispensary employees and management.

91裸聊视频淲e know that the NDP government here in B.C. appreciates the size of the industry,91裸聊视频� Sandover-Sly said, citing a Fraser Institute estimate of a $7 billion value to the economy. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 hopeful that they are aware of this and know that not protecting the industry could be devastating, particularly to rural communities.91裸聊视频�

Other directors are:

91裸聊视频� Alex Robb, general manager of Trees Dispensaries, one of the first to receive a business licence from the City of Victoria

91裸聊视频� Jamie Shaw, a government relations specialist who served as a director of the B.C. Compassion Club Society and president of the Canadian Association of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries

91裸聊视频� Robert Laurie, a lawyer who worked in finance in London and New York before starting a practice focused on the business of cannabis and criminal defence