The Farmgate program in BC aims to support rural and indigenous cannabis growers

British Columbia recently announced that it is joining other provinces in allowing cannabis producers to sell product locally while potentially opening the door to product sampling and consumption locally starting in late November.

Under the new regulation, interested growers will be able to apply for Producer Retail Store (PRS) licenses, which will allow them to sell their own cannabis at their production sites.

These licenses, dubbed the Farmgate program, aim to “support the development of a robust, diverse and sustainable legal cannabis economy that includes Indigenous and rural communities,” according to a press release from BC’s Public Safety and Solicitor General .

British Columbia allows direct farm-to-consumer sales

“The fourth anniversary of BC’s legalization of cannabis is fast approaching and we continue to look at ways to support the growth of the legal market while providing safe and accessible options for British Columbians,” the press release quoted Mike Farnworth, Secretary of State for Public Safety and Attorney General. “The PRS license is another way we are working to support the success of BC-based producers.”

The application fee for these licenses is $7,500, and the first-year license fee and annual renewal fee are each $1,500.

These licensees are eligible to enroll in the BC Liquor Distribution Branch’s (LDB) PRS direct supply program in the PRS direct supply category, which is limited to the sale of the grower’s produced cannabis to the PRS.

This differs from the larger direct delivery program, which includes size-specific licensing requirements and allows for the sale of cannabis to all licensed and authorized cannabis retail outlets in BC

The announcement also notes how the LDB will be consulting with stakeholders to discuss the possibility of holding events on the premises of the manufacturing facility and the potential to enable on-site consumption and production sampling.

Growers look forward to better relationships and brand awareness

For mainstream growers like Glen Valley Cannabis in Langley, BC, this announcement is welcome news. “We’ve been excited about Farmgate programs for some time,” said Paul DeThomas, CEO of Glen Valley. “Having a store allows us to showcase our products in a more personal and personal way than we currently do.”

He adds that marketing restrictions on Canadian cannabis growers are so constrained that the better-known brands with deeper pockets can capture customer attention while the smaller growers struggle for brand recognition.

While Glen Valley focuses on B2B relationships — its massive grow space supplies cannabis to other brands — the Farmgate program is so enticing to DeThomas that he may consider allowing any consumer to visit the site and purchase products.

“We just have to make sure the regulations allow for that kind of politics,” he says.

Farmgate programs are popular in other provinces such as Ontario and New Brunswick. In Alberta, the Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis Commission licenses retail cannabis stores to sell pot in licensed cannabis production facilities, but only as separate entities and with direct consumer sales regulated by the AGLC.

Saskatchewan introduced a Farmgate program back in June, but retail cannabis stores are reportedly not open at its cultivation sites.

David Silberberg

David Silverberg is a freelance journalist who writes for The Toronto Star, BBC News, The Washington Post, Business Insider, Cannabis Health, Merry Jane, High Times and many other outlets. He is also a writing coach, helping freelance journalists and creatives to advance their careers.

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