Cannabis in British Columbia — Part 1

 🌿 Cannabis in British Columbia — Part 1: From Roots to Retail

Cannabis in British Columbia has a rich and winding history — from industrial hemp and Indigenous uses, to underground culture, prohibition, and today’s legal retail industry. This is the first post in a ten-part series exploring BC cannabis.

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🌱 A Brief Timeline

• 🌾 Hemp & Early Use – In the 1600s and 19th century, hemp was grown for rope, textiles, and sails. Its psychoactive cousin existed quietly alongside, used in small communities for ritual, medicine, or recreation.
• 🚫 Prohibition – Cannabis became illegal in 1923. Enforcement was uneven, especially in BC, where geography and counterculture allowed cultivation to continue underground.
• 💨 BC Bud & Grey Markets – From the 1960s–2000s, BC gained fame for high-quality cannabis — “BC Bud.” Compassion clubs and unregulated dispensaries offered access for patients and consumers, forming a patchwork system.
• ✅ Legalization – October 17, 2018, Canada legalized recreational cannabis. BC now has a mixed retail system, combining public and private stores, and a regulated industry worth billions annually.

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🌟 Today’s Market

• 💰 Booming Sales – BC produces roughly 36% of all Canadian cannabis, and sales continue to rise each year.
• 🛍️ Variety of Products – Flower, pre-rolls, concentrates (shatter, wax), edibles, oils, capsules, and topicals. Each product serves different purposes: recreational intensity vs functional relief.
• 🎯 Purpose Matters – Many consumers seek high potency, but others are interested in pain relief, creativity, and stress management. Understanding your goals is key.

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📺 Documentaries & Education

CBC’s Nature of Things episodes, including “The Downside of High” with David Suzuki, explore modern cannabis, focusing on high-THC products and potential mental-health risks. Other Suzuki documentaries highlight environmental and cultural aspects, showing the importance of respect and knowledge when using powerful plant medicine.

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🔑 Key Takeaways

• Cannabis has a deep cultural and industrial history in BC.
• Legalization brought access, regulation, and economic growth.
• Potency matters — education is crucial, especially for young users.
• Cannabis, like pure essential oils, is a powerful medicine that requires respect and understanding