As Canada readies to legalize recreational marijuana nationwide, existing medical cannabis dispensaries in British Columbia might not meet future regulatory requirements and may be forced to shut.
The Canadian federal government announced earlier this year that legislation to legalize marijuana will be introduced by spring 2017. It’s estimated that by 2021 Canada’s legal rec market could reach 3.8 million customers and $4.5 billion in sales.
Independent owners in Canada are concerned the legal market will mean small businesses are pushed out and corporate interests will take over.