Published July 20, 2023
Since the beginning of legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada five years ago, the industry has experienced challenging regulatory and economic conditions, resulting in consolidation and contraction for businesses throughout the supply chain, including licensed producers of cannabis. This contraction has put at risk some of the important public policy aims that legalization was meant to address, including, and especially, providing an increased measure of public safety by helping to eliminate the illicit cannabis market in Canada.
Metro Vancouver (MVRD) intends to put forward a proposed regulation that will set out several requirements for producers to manage cannabis air emissions. This regulation has been proposed under Metro Vancouver’s devolved authority to “prohibit, regulate and otherwise control and prevent the discharge of air contaminants.” The proposed regulation has been advanced on the basis that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – which are odourous – are emitted by cannabis production and processing and are air contaminants which contribute to the formation of ozone, having the potential to harm human health, property, and the environment.
In May 2019, the MVRD Board directed staff to proceed with engagement on the proposed approach for managing emissions from cannabis production and processing. In July 2021, MRVD proceeded with the next phase of engagement. In September 2021, MVRD endorsed the Clean Air Plan, which includes a strategy (4.1.7) to develop an emission regulation for cannabis production and processing.
Cannabis producers across the region disagree with MVRD’s assumptions. CCBC’s Position Paper on Metro Vancouver’s Proposed Air Emissions Regulations summarizes the reasons for their concerns with MVRD’s continued intent to develop an Emissions Regulation for Cannabis Production and Processing.
Full Position Paper here: https://www.cannabiscultivatorsbc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2023-07-20-Metro-Van-VOC-Regulations-Position-Paper-1.pdf