Cannabis Consumption Spaces
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Overview
Who: The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
What: Consideration of public cannabis consumption spaces
Where: Province-wide
Why: To determine public concerns and opportunities
How: Online, phone
Engagement Summary
“Cannabis consumption space” is a general term that refers to a business, special event, or other establishment providing cannabis for sale and use onsite.
Cannabis consumption spaces were not considered at the time of legalization in 2018 because the Province had a limited time-frame to prepare a regulatory framework in advance of the federal legalization date. As well, B.C. had taken a relatively permissive approach to allow cannabis use in public spaces (with some exceptions such as in parks, on school properties and in public buildings).
The Province is now considering whether to allow cannabis consumption spaces and, if so, how they should be regulated. In Spring 2022, Indigenous partners, stakeholders, and people living in British Columbia were invited to provide feedback via an online survey, telephone survey and/or written submissions. Respondents were asked whether these spaces should be permitted, if respondents would visit spaces, and their perspectives on concerns and potential opportunities. The engagement was guided by the Non-Medical Cannabis Consumption Spaces Engagement Discussion Paper, which outlined policy considerations and the principles guiding the Province’s approach to this work.
The results from the online feedback form, written submissions and telephone survey have been compiled and can be found in the Cannabis Consumption Spaces Engagement What We Heard Report.
Results
- 730 respondents completed the telephone survey. Responses were weighted to reflect the B.C. population more closely in terms of gender, age and across Health Authorities
- 15,362 respondents completed the online survey
- 66 written submissions from individuals, businesses, and organizations. Written submissions allowed respondents to provide feedback on behalf of a group, share their subject matter expertise, and provide more detailed feedback than possible through a survey. Review submissions provided by organizations.
Feedback gathered through this public engagement has been summarized in a What We Heard Report and will help inform decisions by the Province on whether to allow consumption spaces, and if so, how this should be done. We thank those who took the time to provide their feedback by telephone, online, or written submission.
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