NELSON, B.C – The Nelson Chamber of Commerce says the business model for weed needs to be adapted to better fit the actual conditions of the Kootenays.
As it currently stands, only weed from licensed producers can be sold on the recreational market, locking out the many smaller growers around the region who have nowhere to legally sell their product.
“We are a region that has been dependent for the last 30 or 40 years on the black or grey market to be supported in our economy. Some of these other provinces have not been regulated nearly as much and has not had as much impact on them at all. We want to stay ahead of this and advocate for a “Made in B.C”-type of policy, Tom Thomson from the Nelson Chamber of Commerce told My Nelson Now.
The Nelson chamber put in a resolution to be dealt with in the provincial Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting, and Thomson says they will continue to advocate for better market conditions for smaller growers and micro cultivators.
One of the proposed changes is to allow for private retail sales online, and also to award local government with more freedom to decide on local policy for sales and production.
My Nelson Now has previously reported on efforts to start a micro-cultivation facility on 45 Government Road.
City council has indicated it supports the idea of cannabis cultivation within the city limits through a letter of support.