A tale of two growers: one going legal, one not so sure

On the laid-back and picturesque Gulf Islands in B.C., cannabis has become an entrenched part of the local economy, alongside the thriving arts, organic farming and yoga industries.

For the past 13 years, Sarah (the Post agreed not to use her real name) has carved out a living as a small-scale grower of craft cannabis products. She relishes the close relationship she’s formed with local customers, who include everyone from cancer patients to recreational users and dispensaries.

“It’s kind of like how you hope business could be,” she says. “It feels like I’m providing a helpful service that I really believe in.”

But as legalization looms, Sarah is uncertain whether she’ll make the transition into the regulated market. She’s even contemplating getting out of the industry altogether.

“The stress level is almost making it not worth it for me anymore,” she says. “I’ve actually thought about – sorry I might get emotional here – I’ve thought about saying f---- it and trying to do something else. But I’ve invested so much time into it and it’s so important to my family.”

At least a quarter of her current business is direct deliveries to people in her community. Under provincial rules, all her products would have to be shipped to B.C.’s Liquor Distribution Branch, meaning no opportunity for farm-to-customer relationships or online orders.

“I can no longer provide my community with the services I’ve been providing them with,” she says, adding that she’s also worried about restrictions on what she can actually sell. “I can’t make tinctures and edibles that are helping people.”

The federal government says it will open up licence applications for so-called “microcultivators” like Sarah after legalization comes into effect. After reviewing guidelines previously released by the government, Sarah says she’s not sure if she can afford to deal with all the red tape.

She’s already in debt after having to relocate her 300 square-foot indoor garden, which is located inside two shipping containers.

Sarah says it’s as if the small producers are “last in line” because the larger producers are already through the gate. “It’s sad because we’re the backbone of how this started. It feels like we’re being held back until everyone gets through.”

Doris (also an alias), Sarah’s friend who’s been growing on the Gulf Islands for two decades, says she intends to work within the regulatory regime, but understands the hesitation from growers like Sarah.

The cost for some growers to upgrade their facilities so they’ll be in compliance with security, quality assurance and record-keeping regulations is just too onerous, she says.

Doris currently grows cannabis out of a 1,200 square-foot wooden building next to her home. She says it makes more financial sense for her to start from scratch and she intends to spend $100,000 to $120,000 to build a “big glorious greenhouse.”

She’s confident she’s got the savings to pull it off, but knows others who are “concerned about throwing all their eggs in a basket that will leave them penniless.”

On top of that, she alleges there are consulting firms charging tens of thousands of dollars that are taking advantage of mom-and-pop growers, telling them their licence applications won’t succeed without their help.

“There are lots of sharks in the water,” Doris says.