The Province of British Columbia has announced the creation of a new online guide designed to help cannabis producers looking to enter the province’s legal market.
The online guide, which is called the Cannabis Production Regulatory Navigator, will help “prospective cannabis cultivators and processors work their way through the steps required to get their regulated and approved products to market,” according to a government media release.
“This new tool will provide clearer and more accessible information about how to enter the legal cannabis market in B.C.,” Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, said in the media release. “Transitioning more cannabis producers to the legal framework will help increase public health and safety, while creating stable jobs that support B.C. families and communities.”
The Cannabis Production Regulatory Navigator is basically a guide for cannabis businesses of all sizes. It will provide information for cultivating — growing and harvesting — and processing, which includes manufacturing and packaging, for commercial purposes in B.C.
“When the Cannabis Act came into effect in October 2018, transitioning legacy growers, often unaccustomed to regulation, were challenged with the prospect of navigating three jurisdictions of government, plus the standard rules required to operate a successful business in B.C.,” Paul Kelly, manager, Cannabis Business Transition Initiative Program, Community Futures Central Kootenay, said in the release. “The province’s new navigator puts much of it in one place, providing an excellent tool to demystify the pathway to cannabis production licensing.”
According to the province, the “value generated” by licensed cannabis producers last year increased by $600 million. The province also said the Cannabis Production Regulatory Navigator will also benefit First Nations and smaller producers.
“The online navigator will help Indigenous, small-scale and craft producers overcome the cost and complexity of attaining the appropriate licences and approvals,” said Michelle Mungall, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness. “Simplifying the regulatory process will help more producers get their businesses running and create job opportunities across the province.”
The provincial government says B.C. “continues to make progress” in its efforts to reduce unlicensed cannabis production while at the same time supporting the development of the licensed cannabis sector.
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