B.C. enters new era as cannabis becomes legal
By Contributor
On Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, British Columbians throughout the province will be able to legally purchase non-medical cannabis online .
British Columbians 19 years of age and older will have the opportunity to purchase regulated cannabis regardless of where they live in the province. The Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) has entered into a contract with Canada Post to deliver online cannabis orders to customers.
Keeping cannabis out of the hands of minors was a key consideration for the LDB in appointing a third-party delivery provider. Canada Post will undertake age-verification checks in the event that a customer appears to be under the age of 25 years. If age verification fails, the product will be returned to the LDB and full purchase price and associated taxes will be refunded.
Customers will pay a $10 shipping fee when ordering from BC Cannabis Stores’ online store. Online orders will be shipped from the LDB’s distribution centre within 48 business hours of the order being placed.
The first BC Cannabis Store in Kamloops is set to open at 10 a.m. (Pacific time) Wednesday morning. The store, located in the Columbia Place Shopping Centre, will have 24 cannabis consultants standing by to serve. The store will feature about 85 dried-flower strains of cannabis plus a selection of oils, capsules and pre-rolls approved by Health Canada.
Additional licensed cannabis retail stores will open in the coming months, as private cannabis retailers proceed through the regulatory and permit process overseen by the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch. Private and public retailers will be allowed to sell dried cannabis, cannabis oils, capsules and seeds that comply with federal requirements. These stores may also sell cannabis accessories, as defined in the federal Cannabis Act, such as rolling papers, pipes and bongs.
The provincial government is committed to ensuring safe, responsible sales of non-medical cannabis and helping ensure products stay out of the hands of minors.
