BC Consumption Spaces Debated
Here’s a stat surprising to no one: cannabis users in the province are more likely to be for BC consumption spaces than non-cannabis users. A recent report found that on average 61 per cent of 730 phone survey respondents supported BC consumption spaces. However, when broken down by users versus non-users, there was a wide gap of 84 per cent versus 48 per cent.
That gap was wider in the online survey where 94 per cent of cannabis users approved of BC consumption spaces while 91 per cent disapproved.
The BC’s Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General released the survey results in a report on January 10, 2023.
The Association of Canadian Cannabis Retailers noted that similar cannabis lounges in Washington, Oregon, and Colorado generated significant economic benefits. Further, regulated BC consumption spaces could reduce “nuisances” associated with cannabis use.
“We also believe that cannabis should be allowed to be sold at festivals and events,” the Association said in a written statement.
Although groups traditionally hesitant to endorse these sorts of changes weren’t as enthusiastic, their statements didn’t come out against it. Police medical experts warned about the dangers in terms of traffic safety of allowing both alcohol and cannabis consumption in the same establishment. The British Columbia Association of Police Chiefs and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) echoed that sentiment.
“Given the serious impairing effect when alcohol and cannabis are used together, we recommend that any consumption space be made to choose between alcohol and cannabis,” MADD said in a written statement. The organization also “cautioned” against making edibles available in unsupervised BC consumption spaces such as live music events.
The Fight for BC Consumption Spaces Echoed Across Canada – LPC
BC consumption spaces is not the first battleground in Canada in the bid to open cannabis lounges. In Ontario, the provincial government hasn’t shown much appetite for them, despite publicly stating that cannabis lounges were a possibility. One big hurdle is the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which prohibits smoking and vaping in public indoor venues. Still, creative entrepreneurs have found ways of opening legal cannabis consumption cafés.
The story is similar in Alberta where Edmonton cannabis cafés were considered. However, festival cannabis deliveries did get the green light in spring of 2022.
BC consumption spaces – and legal consumption spaces elsewhere in Canada – are an important part of freedoms in this, a now-legal cannabis industry. There are hurdles for sure. But there are also compromises to be had. If retailers and commercial businesses can demonstrate that consumption spaces can be rolled out in a safe and responsible manner, governments and other powers that be will be more likely to support them.
Read the Original Hope Standard Article Here
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