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B.C. Reg. 204/2018 O.C. 542/2018 | Deposited October 5, 2018 effective October 17, 2018 |
[Last amended February 14, 2024 by B.C. Reg. 22/2024]
Part 1 — Interpretation and Application
1 In this regulation:
"Act" means the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act;
"designated person" has the same meaning as in Part 14 of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada);
"former Marihuana Medical Access Regulations" has the same meaning as in section 309 of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada);
"health care practitioner" has the same meaning as in Part 14 of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada);
"named responsible adult" has the same meaning as in Part 14 of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada);
means any proof of authority listed in section 20 (1) or 39 (2);
"registered person" has the same meaning as in Part 14 of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada).
2 In the Act and this regulation, "medical cannabis" means
(a) cannabis, other than cannabis plants or cannabis plant seeds, in the possession of an individual who is authorized to possess it under section 266 (1) or 267 (1) of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada) and who is in compliance with Part 14 of those regulations in respect of that cannabis,
(b) cannabis plants and cannabis plant seeds in the possession of a designated person, a registered person, or the named responsible adult in a registered person's registration certificate issued under section 313 (1) of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada), who is authorized in that capacity to possess them under the Cannabis Act (Canada) and who is in compliance with Part 14 of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada) in respect of those plants and seeds,
(c) cannabis that is produced from cannabis plants or cannabis plant seeds referred to in paragraph (b) and that is in the possession of the designated person, the registered person or the named responsible adult,
(d) dried cannabis in the possession of an individual who is authorized to possess it under the order of the Federal Court of Canada in Allard v. Canada, 2016 FC 237, and
(e) cannabis in the possession of an individual who is authorized to possess it under an exemption referred to in section 156 (1) of the Cannabis Act (Canada).
2.1 In the Act and regulations made under the Act:
"consume", in respect of cannabis, includes to smoke, vape, ingest, apply or absorb cannabis;
"consumer", in respect of cannabis, means an individual who buys cannabis for consumption or use by the individual or others, and not for resale.
[en. B.C. Reg. 206/2019, s. 1.]
3 In the Act, "industrial hemp" has the same meaning as in the Industrial Hemp Regulations (Canada).
4 The following are exempted from the Act:
(a) drugs within the meaning of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada), that contain cannabis;
(b) combination products within the meaning of Part 9 of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada);
(c) test kits within the meaning of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada).
Part 2 — Sale, Supply and Possession of Cannabis
6 For the purposes of section 15 (d) of the Act, a federal producer who sells cannabis, in accordance with the Cannabis Act (Canada), to any of the following persons is prescribed as a person who may sell cannabis:
(a) the Minister within the meaning of the Cannabis Act (Canada);
(b) a person, or a person within a class of persons, to whom an exemption has been granted under section 140 of the Cannabis Act (Canada);
(c) a person, or a person within a class of persons, in relation to whom the sold cannabis has been exempted under section 140 of the Cannabis Act (Canada);
(d) an individual referred to in section 4 (1) or (4) of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada).
8 For the purposes of section 17 (g) of the Act, the following persons are prescribed as persons who may supply cannabis:
(a) an individual referred to in section 4 (1) or 5 of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada), to the extent the supply is in accordance with those regulations;
(b) an individual in charge of a hospital who supplies cannabis in accordance with section 348 (6) of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada);
(c) a federal producer who supplies cannabis, in accordance with the Cannabis Act (Canada), to any of the following persons:
(i) the Minister within the meaning of the Cannabis Act (Canada);
(ii) a person, or a person within a class of persons, to whom an exemption has been granted under section 140 of the Cannabis Act (Canada);
(iii) a person, or a person within a class of persons, in relation to whom the supplied cannabis has been exempted under section 140 of the Cannabis Act (Canada);
(iv) an individual referred to in section 4 (1) or (4) of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada);
(v) a research subject referred to in section 28 (4) of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada).
9 (1) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 76/2023, App. 1, s. 1 (a).]
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (a) of the definition of "maximum allowable amount of cannabis" in section 54 (1) of the Act, the prescribed maximum amount of dried cannabis is 1 000 g.
(3) For the purposes of section 52 (1) (a) of the Act and paragraph (b) of the definition of "maximum allowable amount of cannabis" in section 54 (1) of the Act, a quantity referred to in column 2 of Schedule 3 to the Cannabis Act (Canada) in respect of a class of cannabis referred to in column 1 of that Schedule is deemed to be equivalent to 1 g of dried cannabis.
[am. B.C. Regs. 206/2019, ss. 2 and 3; 76/2023, App. 1, s. 1.]
Part 3 — Consumption in Public
10 (1) In this section, "park" has the same meaning as in the Park Act.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), a park is prescribed, for the purposes of section 63 (3) (a) of the Act, as an area in which a person must not smoke or vape cannabis.
(3) The prescribed area does not include an area within a park if, in that area within the park, it is permitted or authorized under section 11.1 (2) (a) or (b) of the Park, Conservancy and Recreation Area Regulation to smoke tobacco, hold lighted tobacco, use an e-cigarette or hold an activated e-cigarette.
11 (1) Subject to subsection (2), a place referred to in section 63 (3) (b), (c) or (d) of the Act is prescribed, for the purposes of that section, as an area in which a person must not smoke or vape cannabis.
(2) The prescribed area does not include an area within a place referred to in section 63 (3) (b), (c) or (d) of the Act if that area within the place is designated as a campsite by
(a) a local government pursuant to its powers under the Community Charter, Local Government Act or Islands Trust Act, or
(b) the Park Board, established under section 485 of the Vancouver Charter, pursuant to its powers under that Act.
12 (1) For the purposes of section 64 of the Act, a place is fully or substantially enclosed if
(a) it has a roof or other covering, and
(b) more than 50% of the nominal wall space is enclosed by any material that does not permit air to flow easily through it.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the "nominal wall space" is the area determined by calculating the length, in metres, of the perimeter of the place, and multiplying it by 2.7 m.
13 (1) In this section, "person in care or resident" means a person who is
(a) a person in care or a resident within the meaning of the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, or
(i) a hospital providing extended care within the meaning of paragraph (c) of the definition of "hospital" in section 1 of the Hospital Act, or
(ii) a private hospital within the meaning of Part 2 of that Act.
(2) The following persons are exempt from section 64 of the Act:
(a) a person in care or resident who smokes or vapes cannabis in a room designated for smoking or vaping cannabis within a community care facility, assisted living residence or hospital;
(b) a person who is registered as a guest under the Hotel Guest Registration Act, if the guest is smoking or vaping cannabis in the room or building in which the guest and the guest's party, if any, have been assigned exclusive accommodation.
14 (1) For the purposes of section 64 (3) of the Act, the prescribed distance from a doorway, window or air intake, within which a person must not smoke or vape cannabis, is 6 m.
(2) A manager, owner or lessee of, or an employer at, a public place is exempt from liability under section 68 (2) or (3) of the Act, as applicable, in respect of any portion of the area within the 6 m distance described in subsection (1) of this section over which the manager, owner, lessee or employer has no control, if a person smokes or vapes cannabis within that portion but that person is not
15 (1) In this section, "industrial road", "motor home", "motor vehicle" and "trailer" have the same meaning as in the Motor Vehicle Act.
(2) A person is exempt from section 65 (1) and (2) of the Act if the vehicle referred to in that section
(a) is a motor home or other motor vehicle, a camper or trailer,
(b) is being used as a permanent or temporary private residence, and
(c) is parked in an area where camping is allowed, but not
(i) on a highway within the meaning of paragraphs (a) to (c) of the definition of "highway" in the Motor Vehicle Act, or
16 (1) A person is exempt from section 65 (1) and (2) of the Act if the boat referred to in that section
(a) is equipped with permanent sleeping accommodations, cooking facilities and a toilet,
(b) is being used as a permanent or temporary private residence, and
(2) A person is exempt from section 65 (1) (b) and (2) of the Act if
(a) the boat referred to in that section is being used by its owner or operator to provide marine transportation of passengers to members of the public for a fee, and
(b) the person consuming cannabis
(i) is a passenger on the boat, and
(ii) is consuming cannabis in an enclosed room in which the passenger and the passenger's party, if any, have been assigned exclusive accommodation.
17 For the purposes of section 66 (b) of the Act, the prescribed distance from a bus stop, within which a person must not smoke or vape cannabis, is 6 m.
18 (1) In this section, "highway" means
(a) a highway within the meaning of the Transportation Act, and
(b) a road, street, lane or right of way designed or intended for or used by the general public for the passage of vehicles.
(2) For the purposes of section 67 of the Act, an area, consisting of a sidewalk, boulevard or similar components, that abuts both school property and a highway is prescribed as a place in which a person must not consume cannabis.
"e-cigarette" has the same meaning as in the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act;
"law" means the following:
(a) a law of Canada or British Columbia;
(b) a law or bylaw of an Indigenous nation;
(c) a bylaw of a municipality or regional district;
"public patio" means a patio that is a public place;
"tobacco" has the same meaning as in the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act.
(2) This section applies for the purposes of section 67 of the Act.
(3) If a law applies to the smoking or vaping of cannabis in or on a public patio, a person must not smoke or vape cannabis in or on the public patio contrary to that law.
(4) To the extent that no law applies to the smoking or vaping of cannabis in or on a public patio, a person must not smoke or vape cannabis in or on the public patio contrary to any law that applies to the smoking of tobacco or to the use of e-cigarettes, as if that law applied to the smoking or vaping of cannabis.
[en. B.C. Reg. 22/2024, App. 1, s. 1.]
20 (1) For the purposes of sections 52 (2) (b) and 53 (2) (b) of the Act, the following documents are prescribed as proof of authority to possess medical cannabis:
(a) a valid and subsisting registration document provided under section 282 (2) of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada) to a client;
(b) a valid and subsisting registration certificate issued under section 313 (1) of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada) to a registered person;
(c) a valid and subsisting document provided under section 313 (3) of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada) to a designated person who is named in a registration certificate referred to in paragraph (b) of this subsection;
(d) a valid and subsisting document provided under section 348 (3) (e) of the Cannabis Regulations (Canada) to a patient or an adult who is responsible for the patient;
(e) subject to subsection (2), an authorization to possess issued under section 11 of the former Marihuana Medical Access Regulations that was valid and subsisting on March 31, 2014 and that remains valid and subsisting as a result of the order of the Federal Court of Canada in Allard v. Canada, 2016 FC 237, or an exemption referred to in section 156 (1) of the Cannabis Act (Canada);
(f) a designated-person production licence issued under section 40 of the former Marihuana Medical Access Regulations that was valid and subsisting on March 31, 2014 and that remains valid and subsisting as a result of the order of the Federal Court of Canada in Allard v. Canada, 2016 FC 237, or an exemption referred to in section 156 (1) of the Cannabis Act (Canada);
(g) a copy of a document referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (f).
(2) In the case of an individual who was issued a personal-use production licence under section 29 of the former Marihuana Medical Access Regulations, the individual may use as proof of authority the document referred to in subsection (1) (e) of this section, or a copy of it, if the individual is also carrying the individual's personal-use production licence, or a copy of it, that was valid and subsisting on March 31, 2014 and that remains valid and subsisting as a result of the order of the Federal Court of Canada in Allard v. Canada, 2016 FC 237, or an exemption referred to in section 156 (1) of the Cannabis Act (Canada).
21 The following persons are exempt from sections 52 and 54 of the Act:
(a) health care practitioners who obtain cannabis under the Cannabis Act (Canada) and require the cannabis in their possession for the practice of their profession;
(b) individuals in charge of hospitals, when acting in that role, who obtain cannabis under the Cannabis Act (Canada).
22 An individual is exempt from the prohibition, under section 54 (3) of the Act, against possessing at one location an amount of cannabis that is more than the maximum allowable amount of cannabis if
(a) some or all of the cannabis the individual possesses at the location is medical cannabis,
(b) the individual does not possess at the location an amount of cannabis that is more than the sum of
(i) the maximum allowable amount of cannabis within the meaning of section 54 (1) of the Act, and
(ii) the maximum amount of medical cannabis that the individual is authorized to possess, and
(c) the individual has proof of authority to possess medical cannabis and, when at the location, the individual is carrying that proof.
23 An individual is exempt from the prohibition, under section 61 (a) of the Act, against consuming cannabis in or on school property if
(a) the individual is a worker or student at the school,
(b) the cannabis the individual possesses and consumes is medical cannabis,
(c) the individual is carrying proof of authority to possess medical cannabis, other than the proof of authority referred to in section 20 (1) (c), or, in the case of a minor, that proof of authority to possess medical cannabis is on file with the school's principal, superintendent or education authority,
(d) the individual or, in the case of a minor, the minor's named responsible adult, parent or guardian, has notified the school's principal, superintendent or education authority of the individual's or minor's authority to possess medical cannabis,
(e) the individual's health care practitioner directs consumption of cannabis at intervals that overlap with regular school hours or school activities or events, and
24 An individual is exempt from the prohibition, under section 67 of the Act, against consuming cannabis in a place prescribed under section 18 (2) of this regulation if
(a) the cannabis the individual possesses and consumes is medical cannabis,
(b) the individual is carrying proof of authority to possess medical cannabis, and
25 An individual is exempt from the prohibition, under section 65 (1) (b) of the Act, against consuming cannabis in or on a vehicle or boat being operated by another person if
(a) the individual is a passenger on an inter-city bus within the meaning of the Passenger Transportation Act, a connector bus within the meaning of the Passenger Transportation Regulation, a boat or a train,
(b) the cannabis the individual possesses and consumes is medical cannabis,
(c) the individual is carrying proof of authority to possess medical cannabis, and
26 (1) An individual is exempt from the prohibition, under section 69 (2) of the Act, against supplying cannabis to a minor if
(a) the cannabis the individual possesses and supplies to the minor is medical cannabis,
(b) the individual is authorized to possess medical cannabis,
(c) the minor is carrying proof of authority to possess medical cannabis,
(d) the medical cannabis is supplied to the minor in accordance with the individual's and the minor's authority to possess it, and
(e) in the case of an individual who is not the minor's named responsible adult, parent or guardian, the individual has written consent from the minor's named responsible adult, parent or guardian to supply medical cannabis to the minor.
(2) The written consent referred to in subsection (1) (e) must be signed and dated by the minor's named responsible adult, parent or guardian and set out the following information:
(b) the name and contact information of the minor's named responsible adult, parent or guardian and the relationship to the minor of that adult, parent or guardian;
(c) the name of the individual who is being given consent to supply medical cannabis to the minor;
(d) the period of time during which the individual may supply medical cannabis to the minor;
(e) the period, specified as a number of days, weeks or months, during which the minor may use the supplied medical cannabis.
(3) A person is exempt from the prohibition, under section 69 (2) of the Act, against supplying a cannabis accessory to a minor if the minor is authorized to possess medical cannabis and the cannabis accessory is to be used by the minor to consume medical cannabis.
(4) A person is exempt from the prohibition, under section 69 (3) of the Act, against allowing a minor to consume or possess cannabis in or at a place under the person's control if
(a) the cannabis the minor consumes or possesses is medical cannabis,
(b) the minor is carrying proof of authority to possess medical cannabis, other than the proof of authority referred to in section 20 (1) (c), and
(c) in the case of a person who is not the minor's named responsible adult, parent or guardian, the person has written consent from the minor's named responsible adult, parent or guardian to allow the minor to consume or possess medical cannabis.
(5) The written consent referred to in subsection (4) (c) must be signed and dated by the minor's named responsible adult, parent or guardian and set out the following information:
(b) the name and contact information of the minor's named responsible adult, parent or guardian and the relationship to the minor of that adult, parent or guardian;
(c) the name of the person or organization that is being given consent to allow the minor to consume or possess medical cannabis;
(d) the period of time during which the person or organization may allow the minor to consume or possess medical cannabis;
(e) the period, specified as a number of days, weeks or months, during which the minor may possess the medical cannabis.
27 (1) A minor is exempt from the prohibitions, under section 73 (1) of the Act, against possessing and consuming cannabis if
(a) the cannabis the minor possesses or consumes is medical cannabis,
(b) the minor's named responsible adult, parent or guardian, who is accompanying the minor, is carrying proof of authority to possess medical cannabis, other than the proof of authority referred to in section 20 (1) (c), and
(c) in the case of a minor who is not accompanied by the minor's named responsible adult, parent or guardian, the minor is carrying proof of authority to possess medical cannabis, other than the proof of authority referred to in section 20 (1) (c).
(2) A minor is exempt from the prohibition, under section 73 (2) of the Act, against possessing a cannabis accessory if the minor is authorized to possess medical cannabis and the cannabis accessory is to be used by the minor to consume medical cannabis.
Part 5 — Compliance and Enforcement
28 A contravention of any of the following provisions is prescribed to be an offence:
(a) section 33 (3) (a) [taking down signs relating to monetary penalties];
(b) section 33 (3) (b) [defacing, obstructing or moving signs relating to monetary penalties];
(c)-(d) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 172/2021, s. (c).]
(e) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 22/2024, App. 1, s. 2.]
[am. B.C. Regs. 172/2021, s. (c); 22/2024, App. 1, s. 2.]
29 A person who commits an offence referred to in section 28 is liable,
(a) in the case of a corporation, to a fine of not more than $50 000,
(b) in the case of an individual who is a licensee, to a fine of not more than $50 000 or to imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or to both, and
(c) in the case of an individual who is not a licensee, to a fine of not more than $10 000 or to imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or to both.
31 (1) The fee for an application for a reconsideration of a compliance order under section 95 (2) of the Act is $500.
(2) Fees paid by an applicant for a reconsideration of a compliance order as defined in section 95 (1) of the Act must be refunded if a reconsideration order made under section 95 (10) of the Act rescinds the compliance order.
32 If the director imposes a monetary penalty on a person, the director may publish the following information:
33 (1) In this section, "premises" means a place or conveyance.
(2) If the director imposes a monetary penalty on a person, the director may post one or more signs, in prominent locations in the interior or on the exterior of the premises where the contravention occurred, that contain the following information:
(a) the fact that a monetary penalty has been imposed;
(b) the name of the person on whom the penalty was imposed;
(c) the amount of the penalty;
(d) the period of time, established by the director, that the sign must remain posted.
(3) If the director has posted one or more signs under subsection (2), a person must not
(a) take down the signs until after the period for posting specified on the sign has ended, or
(b) deface, obstruct or move the signs during the period that the signs must remain posted.
Part 5.1 — Compensation for Seized Cannabis
Division 1 — Definitions and Application of Part
34.1 In this Part:
"class", in respect of cannabis, means a class set out in column 1 of Schedule 3 to the Cannabis Act (Canada);
"dwelling house" has the same meaning as in section 55 of the Act.
[en. B.C. Reg. 265/2018; am. B.C. Reg. 76/2023, App. 1, s. 2.]
34.2 When a person who is not a licensee applies under section 105 (4) of the Act for compensation for cannabis that has been seized, the amount of compensation payable is an amount determined in accordance with this Part.
[en. B.C. Reg. 265/2018.]
Division 2 — Non-Medical Cannabis
34.3 This Division applies to seized cannabis that is not medical cannabis.
[en. B.C. Reg. 265/2018.]
34.4 (1) The amount of compensation for seized cannabis, other than cannabis plants or cannabis plant seeds, that has been purchased for the purpose of consumption and not for resale is
(a) the purchase price, to be proven in a manner that is acceptable to the director, pro-rated for the amount of cannabis seized, and
(b) if the purchase price cannot be proven in a manner that is acceptable to the director, the lowest price that a patron would be charged in a government cannabis store for the class and amount of seized cannabis at the time of seizure.
(2) The amount of compensation for seized cannabis plant seeds that have been purchased for the purpose of growing cannabis plants to produce cannabis for consumption and not for resale is
(a) the purchase price, to be proven in a manner that is acceptable to the director, pro-rated for the number of seeds seized, and
(b) if the purchase price cannot be proven in a manner that is acceptable to the director, the lowest price that a patron would be charged at the time of seizure in a government cannabis store for cannabis plant seeds, pro-rated for the number of seeds seized.
[en. B.C. Reg. 265/2018.]
34.5 (1) The amount of compensation for a seized cannabis plant that was growing at a dwelling house is the cost to buy at the time of the seizure the same type of cannabis plant that is not budding or flowering and that cost is to be determined in a manner and by a procedure that the director considers adequate and expedient.
(2) The amount of compensation for seized cannabis that was harvested, before the seizure, from a cannabis plant that was grown at a dwelling house is the lowest price that a patron would be charged in a government cannabis store for the class and amount of seized cannabis at the time of seizure.
[en. B.C. Reg. 265/2018.]
34.6 The amount of compensation for seized cannabis in any other case is,
(a) if the cannabis was purchased in a situation not referred to in section 34.4 and the purchase price can be proven in a manner that is acceptable to the director, the purchase price pro-rated for the amount of cannabis seized, and
(b) if the purchase price referred to in paragraph (a) cannot be proven in a manner that is acceptable to the director or if the cannabis was not purchased, the cost to replace the same type of cannabis at the time of the seizure and that cost is to be determined in a manner and by a procedure that the director considers adequate and expedient.
[en. B.C. Reg. 265/2018.]
34.7 The amount of compensation for seized medical cannabis, other than a cannabis plant or cannabis plant seeds, that has been purchased is
(a) the purchase price, to be proven in a manner that is acceptable to the director, pro-rated for the amount of cannabis seized, and
(b) if the purchase price cannot be proven in a manner that is acceptable to the director, the cost to replace the same type of cannabis at the time of seizure.
[en. B.C. Reg. 265/2018.]
34.8 (1) This section applies to seized medical cannabis that is
(c) harvested from a cannabis plant that was medical cannabis.
(2) The amount of compensation for seized medical cannabis referred to in subsection (1) is the cost to replace the same type of cannabis at the time of seizure.
[en. B.C. Reg. 265/2018.]
38 The general manager may enter into, with an official of the Ministry of Finance, an agreement that provides for either the disclosure of information and records to that ministry or the exchange of similar information and records with that ministry, or both, for the purposes of
(a) administering or enforcing an enactment of British Columbia or Canada related to taxation, or
Part 7 — Transitional Provisions
39 (1) In this section, "former Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations" has the same meaning as in the Cannabis Regulations (Canada).
(2) In addition to the documents prescribed in section 20 (1), the following documents are prescribed, for the purposes of sections 52 (2) (b) and 53 (2) (b) of the Act, as proof of authority to possess medical cannabis:
(a) a valid and subsisting registration certificate sent to a registered person under section 178 (3) (a) of the former Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations;
(b) a valid and subsisting document sent to a designated person under section 178 (3) (b) of the former Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations;
(c) a copy of a document referred to paragraph (a) or (b);
(d) subject to subsection (3), a valid and subsisting registration document sent to a client under section 133 (2) (a) of the former Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations.
(3) A person may use as proof of authority a document referred to in subsection (2) (d), or a copy of it, for a period of 6 months that begins on October 17, 2018.
[Provisions relevant to the enactment of this regulation: Cannabis Control and Licensing Act, S.B.C. 2018, c. 29, ss. 105, 127, 128, 130, 132, 134, 137, 138 and 139.]
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