(Syilx (Okanagan)/Kelowna, B.C.) –Delegates attending the three-day BC Cannabis Summit held in Kelowna this week have prioritized a series of policy solutions for federal and provincial governments to address the current regulatory barriers preventing BC’s craft cannabis farmers, processors, nurseries and retailers from achieving their full potential in the legal market.

The Summit saw over 400 delegates, exhibitors, and speakers attend the April 20-22 event which was organized by the BC Craft Farmers Co-op (BCCFC) and the Association of Canadian Cannabis Retailers (ACCRES). The event was co-hosted by cannabis sector leaders Dutchie and Saskatchewan Weed Pool Cooperative.

Delegates were presented with eleven (11) policy proposals that reflected feedback from a series of pre-Summit surveys. The voting results announced at the Summit’s closing ceremony on Friday identified seven (7) priority policy solutions to guide federal and provincial advocacy over the coming year.

The prioritized resolutions focus on:

  • Cannabis Act Review
  • BC Direct Sales Policy
  • Cannabis Stigma and Expungement of Records
  • Medical Cannabis Access
  • Federal Cannabis Licencing – Production and Processing
  • Cannabis as an Agriculture Activity
  • Canada/BC Job Creation and Economic Development Partnership

See the backgrounder here for details of the approved resolutions.

Alongside the Summit’s policy development process, the BC Craft Farmers Co-op has launched a provincial consultation regarding the BC government’s proposed farm gate and on-site consumption proposals. The first craft farmers’ roundtable is scheduled to take place this morning at the East Kelowna Community Hall.