PUFF, PUFF, PASS: B.C. considers onsite cannabis use at cafes, spas, festivals and more
The B.C. government is toying with the idea of opening the door to cannabis consumption spaces, which has some in the weed industry excited about the opportunity but fearful of all the red tape.
The province released a paper on the subject, and a survey, Wednesday, April 6, asking the public for feedback on businesses, special events or other establishments providing cannabis for sale for on-site use.
"I know that consumption spaces are very exciting for many, many realtors, and other stakeholders," Okanagan Cannabis Collective spokesperson Mariana Wolff told iNFOnews.
As the owner of Penticton's Cannabis Cottage, Wolff said her long-term goal for the business was to open a cannabis lounge. And part of the reason she chose the business's location is that it would lend itself to opening a cannabis consumption site.
Vernon's Spirit Leaf cannabis store owner Sarah Ballantyne is also excited by the prospect and would be keen to take her business in that direction.
She envisions a "high-class lounge" serving food with a large outdoor area where customers could smoke or vape. She recently visited one in California.
"I wouldn't want it put in with alcohol... a lot of our customers don't drink and they don't tend to go to bars," Ballantyne said. "So I think it would have to be (a) more cannabis-only cafe."
And it's not just cannabis lounges that the government is considering.
The survey includes questions on everything from spas offering cannabis treatments, to being able to drink cannabis beverages in the theatre, or vape on the golf course.
But don't think Amsterdam-style pot-smoking cafes, as the province has said that if it allows consumption sites, indoor smoking and vaping would not be allowed.
READ MORE: Penticton and Vernon in running to become cannabis tourism capital of Canada
The owner of The Shore Cannabis Shop in Kamloops, Chris Lyth, welcomes the idea.
"You're able to consume alcohol in different locations, we have open beer gardens at various ticketed events, I think the natural progression is for there to be also cannabis consumption areas," Lyth said. "(At an) outdoor festival or something like that is a fantastic idea."
However, Lyth said he doesn't see how opening a cannabis lounge could be profitable.
"As an owner myself I wouldn't consider opening up a lounge," he said.
Lyth points out that someone may go to a bar and drink two beers in an hour. Over four hours a person might consume six to eight beers.
But with cannabis that's not the case.
His cheapest pre-rolled joint costs $4.20, and a cannabis drink between $3.50 and $5. The effects of either will last several hours.
"So you probably wouldn't want to consume more than one... (financially) it's not viable," he said.
While the cannabis store owners would welcome the arrival of consumption spaces, none of them are optimistic that the process put in place by the government will be easy.
"It's probably going to be frustrating at first, but what isn't in this space," Wolff said.
The provincial government has been heavily criticized by many in the cannabis industry for its endless red tape, exorbitant costs and a multitude of other factors from competition from the B.C. government itself, to business licences that can cost 10 times that of a regular business.
"They'll put restrictions on it, just like they've done in retail and production, they'll put layers of restrictions on it to make it quite difficult and those who truly want to be in it might get in on the ground floor," Ballantyne said.
Regardless of the complications, Ballantyne's sure the demand from the public is there.
"My staff are all quite keen on going to consumption lounges," she adds.
The provincial government's cannabis consumption survey will run until May 9 and can be found here.
READ MORE: Getting high on a cannabis tour is not on offer during this summer of COVID-19
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