Why Buy BC Legal Cannabis?
“Weed” and “pot” have come a long way in recent years, with legalization opening doors to a regulated, safer, and consumer-friendly market. When you buy BC legal cannabis from either a BC Cannabis Store or an authorized private store, you can trust what you’re getting and where it comes from. Below are some key benefits of buying from a legal dispensary.
Quality and tested BC cannabis
BC Cannabis Stores and the Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB), as the non-medical cannabis wholesaler for BC, only support approved Licensed Producers (LPs) from Health Canada. Before you can buy BC legal cannabis, a Licensed Producer must get all their product lots or batches tested by a licensed third-party laboratory for harmful containments before they can sell it, such as pesticides, mold, and heavy metals. The results of these tests are documented on a Certificate of Analysis (CoA), ensuring compliance with Health Canada’s regulations, while provide consumers’ confidence and transparency regarding the products.
This regulated testing is crucial, especially given that containments have been found in the illicit market. According to a pilot study, “the BC Cannabis Secretariat sent 20 dried cannabis samples, seized by the provincial Community Safety Unit from illicit retailers in the Metro Vancouver region, to a federally licensed analytical testing lab in February 2021. Twenty-four distinct pesticides were found in the illicit samples, along with unacceptable levels of bacteria, fungi, lead, and arsenic.” To learn more, read here.
Accurate potency labels
Another key benefit of third-party laboratory testing is that it not only checks for harmful contaminants, but also provides detailed results for cannabinoid potency levels, such as THC and CBD, as well as terpene content. This information is included on CoA, ensuring that consumers know the exact cannabinoid percentages in their products, allowing them to make informed decisions when they go to a dispensary to buy BC legal cannabis. This transparency contrasts with the illicit market, where the potency and content of the products are often untested, unknown, and unreliable.
Traceable supply chain
Much like knowing the origins of your food, understanding where, when, and how your cannabis products are made helps you make informed purchasing and consumption decisions when buying BC legal cannabis. All legal products feature a traceable supply chain to further ensure transparency and accountability.
To reinforce this traceability, the packaging must include several key pieces of information:
- Packaged-On Date: Indicates when the product was packaged.
- Expiry Date: Provided if the product is perishable.
- Product Weight: Clearly states the weight of the product you’re buying.
- Lot Number: Identifies the specific batch from which the product was harvested by the LP.
- Contact Information: Allows consumers to reach out to the LP with any questions or concerns.
To further ensure consumer safety, the packaging incorporates a security feature that guarantees the product has not been tampered with before you buy BC legal cannabis products. These traceable regulations build consumer trust by ensuring a product’s integrity.
Educated staff at BC Cannabis Stores
When you go to buy BC legal cannabis, all our Product Consultants at our stores hold the Selling It Right certification, ensuring they sell it responsibly. Additionally, they undergo a comprehensive product training program to enhance their knowledge. This training covers responsible consumption, relevant policies, the effects of THC and CBD, the production processes of different products, and more. As a result, our staff are well-equipped to educate customers and assist them in selecting the right products.
Minimizes the grey market and risk to youth
One of the most significant benefits when you buy BC legal cannabis, is its role to reduce criminal offenses by minimizing the grey market (illicit sources). In addition, this shift helps keep it out of the hands of youth.
According to Health Canada’s National Cannabis Survey from 2024, “72% of those who reported using cannabis in the past 12 months reported usually purchasing…from a legal source, an increase from 4% in 2018 [Canada’s legalization day was on October 17, 2018].” Indicating that less and less consumers are supporting the illegal market.
Under Canada’s Cannabis Act, there are strict laws and regulations in place to protect youth. One notable measure is the requirement for child-resistant packaging, which aims to prevent accidental ingestion by children and pets. Another packaging requirement Licensed Producers must uphold to is that it must not appeal to minors, such as by mimicking candy brands or using cartoon characters.
Furthermore, at BC Cannabis Stores, we uphold strict regulations by allowing no minors into our dispensaries, even when accompanied by an adult. Upon entering a store, customers are required to present two pieces of ID to verify their age and identity. This rigorous ID check is part of the store's commitment to preventing underage access to it.
These measures appear to be effective in keeping youth safe too. A report conducted by Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics found a decrease in youth offenses since legalization. Among the youth (aged 12-17 years), “…there were 1,858 young persons charged with cannabis-related offences in 2017 (78 per 100,000 population )... In 2020, there were 249 youth charged (10 per 100,000 population). This is an 87% decrease in the rate since before the legalization of cannabis...”.
Supports BC's community
Like BC Liquor Stores, BC Cannabis Stores supports many charitable programs throughout the year, including Red Cross, QMUNITY, and local food banks. Additionally, profits and tax revenue from the sales are reinvested into the province, providing financial support for vital public services such as healthcare and education. This reinvestment helps to enhance the quality of life for all residents of British Columbia. Therefore, consumers can feel good when they buy BC legal cannabis at our stores.
By choosing to buy legal products at BC Cannabis Stores, or an authorized, legal dispensary, you’re not just making a purchase; you’re participating in a future towards a safer, more informed, and economically beneficial market. Visit one of our store locations or explore our online store to discover the benefits when you buy BC legal cannabis.
Interested in finding all the legal dispensaries near you? This list is updated regularly.
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