British Columbia to decide on co-locating cannabis and liquor sales

A decision is reportedly coming this month on whether British Columbia will allow recreational cannabis and liquor to be sold in the same location.

The province has said it would give entrepreneurs the opportunity to participate in recreational sales of marijuana next year – alongside the provincial government – but it put off a decision on co-locating cannabis and liquor sales until 2018.

The government previously said it might have to accept “co-location,” as it’s known in Canada, “to get this done by July of next year,” the Vancouver Sun reported.

Nova Scotia is the only jurisdiction in North America that plans to pair alcohol and marijuana sales. No U.S. state that has legalized marijuana allows co-location, according to The Globe and Mail.

Ottawa’s task force on marijuana legalization recommended against allowing sales of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis in the same location for health concerns.

British Columbia currently operates a hybrid alcohol sales model, with government-owned stores competing with privately-owned outlets.

To sign up for our weekly Canada marijuana business newsletter, click here.