Cannabis home delivery will soon be available

Recreational cannabis retailers in B.C. will be allowed to deliver to customers starting July 15, the provincial government announced.

In August 2020, B.C. allowed retailers to sell their products online—but customers still had to pick up at the store.

Under the new rules, adults will be allowed to receive delivery orders. The recipient doesn’t have to be a resident at the address, or even the person who placed the order. However, they will have to provide their name and signature to take delivery.

“Since the federal legalization of non-medical cannabis, we’ve been working to support a strong and diverse cannabis industry, shrink the illicit market and keep products out of the hands of children and youth,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

“Allowing direct delivery to consumers isn’t just an advantage retailers have told us is vital to the viability of their sector, it’s also a way we can further our public safety goals.”

The province said the move will support B.C.’s legal cannabis industry and strengthen the local economy.

The move is in response to industry feedback.

The province says it is also removing security verification requirements for cannabis workers, which is expected to eliminate delays in hiring and allow legal retailers to hire staff more quickly to implement delivery.

“Government has consulted, listened and really delivered,” says Jaclynn Pehota, executive director, Association of Canadian Cannabis Retailers.

“Knowing retailers can start hiring without delay and be ready to better meet customers’ needs when delivery becomes an option is incredibly welcome news. Adding convenient home delivery to the mix of knowledgeable staff and regulated product can only serve to make the legal cannabis sector the source of choice for more people.”

The province adds that since legalization, the province completed security screening on more than 7,000 prospective cannabis workers and has not identified any significant risk of links to organized crime.

Cannabis retail store licencees “and their associates” will remain subject to rigorous security screening when applying for a licence, says the province.