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What is your history with Cannabis?

I began a hobbyist grower and recreational consumer relationship with cannabis as a teenager. Growing up my parents lived in the boonies so my siblings and I had our green babies out in the backyard which was also the BC forest. Cannabis thrives well in the Okanagan sunshine so it was easy to get hooked on the farming hobby. I began my professional relationship with cannabis after university where I began working for cannabis consulting firms in the Okanagan. I assisted clients with various types of consulting from including optimization of tissue culture propagation to building and submitting application to produce cannabis at commercial level.

What made you decide to get into the industry?

When the intent to legalize cannabis was announced, I pitched the idea of applying for a non-medical retail sales license to my husband. I figured if I could help clients prepare and streamline their license applications for Health Canada, I could certainly do this for myself. Between my husband’s strong business background and my knowledge and experience with the legal cannabis industry in Canada we felt confident pursuing this venture.

What has been the biggest challenge in getting your shop opened?

Most people would agree that opening a legal cannabis shop is not like opening a shoe store and certainly not like opening an illegal cannabis shop. The level of red tape that we have had to wade through at the provincial and municipal levels of government have been almost so overwhelming that at times it has seemed like this ship was never going to sail. Couple that with a headache of renovating an old building that required even more red tape (city permits and trying to bring an outdated structure up to current building codes) and it’s enough to make anyone’s head spin.

Calling for new products

The province of BC says it’s time to pitch them on new cannabis products.

The BC Liquor Distribution Branch says it’s inviting licensed cannabis producers to propose new products in several categories due to be legalized later this year. They include edibles, beverages, topicals and extracts.

“This product call marks an exciting time for the LDB as we work toward introducing new product categories into B.C.’s legal cannabis market,” said Blain Lawson, general manager and CEO, LDB in a statement.

“We are currently working with over 30 licensed producers and look forward to engaging with new suppliers to expand our wholesale product assortment.”

LPs have the chance to identify their interest and ability to supply the LDB with their new range of products.

The items they choose will be carried and sold through private and public retail cannabis stores.

Click for the fine print.

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