Cannabis Cafes in British Columbia – Cannabis News, Lifestyle

Cannabis cafes in British Columbia? Cannabis cafes have been around in Vancouver for a while. And Canada’s west coast is no stranger to cannabis-centric concerts and festivals. But will it all be legal soon?

The state government would like the public to participate. The government has launched a public consultation as it considers legalizing “cannabis consumption rooms”. The deadline for feedback is May 9th, 2022.

What are “cannabis consumption rooms”?

And do they include cannabis cafes in British Columbia?

Currently, only authorized retail stores are allowed to sell recreational cannabis in BC. Eating on site is illegal. And that includes cannabis cafes. But the BC government’s “cannabis consumption room” will legalize lounges, cafes and special events like concerts and festivals.

British Columbia will see more than just cannabis cafes. The government’s discussion paper proposes a number of possibilities.

These include tastings during a tour of a cannabis farm, cooking classes using cannabis extracts, a cannabis garden at music festivals, lounges offering cannabis, food and entertainment, restaurants serving both alcohol and cannabis beverages, and spas and massage therapists using cannabis themes.

But what about smoking?

Expect such signs

Cannabis cafes in British Columbia? No smoke for you!

As exciting as all this sounds, at the end of the day, it’s the provincial government of British Columbia that sets the rules. They are very clear: “Smoking and vaping indoors would not be allowed in consumption rooms.”

Sites must meet public health and safety objectives. Including “promoting responsible use” and reducing cannabis-influenced driving. Otherwise, legal consumption rooms are taboo. The BC government is taking a phase-in approach. “This would allow regulators to learn about consumption spaces and use that experience to make decisions about whether or how to license other spaces,” the discussion paper said.

A tourist cash cow?

Will British Columbia’s cannabis cafes be a tourist cash cow? No smoking or vaping in the cafes? With strict federal rules governing the industry’s marketing and advertising? And with simple packaging restrictions? It is unlikely to be very successful in its first incarnation.

Because if you’re not allowed to smoke or vape in a cannabis cafe, what exactly are you supposed to do? Sitting there for 3-4 hours sipping a cannabis infused latte? And as they say more than once in the discussion paper, “The province is not considering allowing indoor smoking and vaping.”

Although 72.9% of cannabis use in British Columbia is through smoking. But the BC government has no interest in bringing smoking back to normal.

However, smoking and vaping outdoors will be considered. Whether it will be “compatible with public health and safety goals” remains to be seen. But one fails to see how a consumption site could thrive without at least allowing outdoor smoking and vaping.

The province expects to release a report next fall.

footnote(s)

https://engage.gov.bc.ca/app/uploads/sites/741/2022/04/8711_Cannabis_Consumption_Discussion_Paper_PSSG_v5.pdf

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