The Canadian province of British Columbia recently announced the Indigenous Shelf Space Program that will start in 2021.
As part of the program, shelf space in British Columbia’s privately and publicly owned recreational cannabis stores will soon be reserved to highlight products from Indigenous producers.
“The program will highlight cannabis products produced by B.C. Indigenous producers in BC Cannabis Stores, helping consumers easily identify those products and make purchasing decisions,” according to the announcement.
Key details about the program are still to be decided which include whether or not participation of all of the province’s 250+ recreational cannabis stores will be mandatory.
Details on wholesale procurement are also not available yet.
Wes Sam, co-founder and executive chair of Nations Cannabis in Burns Lake, Northern British Columbia, called the move a “positive step in the right direction toward Indigenous economic reconciliation.”
“After encouraging government to establish initiatives such as this for the past year and half, we hope that this is a signal that government understands the important role it can play in supporting the development of an industry in which Fist Nations can play a significant part,” he wrote in an email to Marijuana Business Daily.
Indigenous entrepreneurs have been asking the provincial and federal governments to do more to ensure equitable participation in the country’s cannabis space.
“As the province moves into a period of economic recovery from COVID-19, we believe that this emerging industry can play a significant role in helping rekindle the economy while creating investment and opportunities for First Nations in a regulated industry,” the Nations Cannabis founder said.
Attorney General David Eby said the Indigenous Shelf Space Program will help the legal cannabis industry in B.C. grow in an inclusive way.
“By making it easier to know more about the product, those who choose to use cannabis can make careful decisions about what types of product they want to buy and what sectors of the industry they want to support,” he said.
