Following B.C.’s announcement earlier this year allowing businesses to open patio spaces for cannabis consumption, several cannabis stores and other businesses have taken action.
New Outdoor Consumption Spaces
The Billy Miner Ale House and Cafe in Maple Ridge recently advertised an outdoor consumption space in partnership with local cannabis store Cheeky’s Cannabis. Both businesses are partially owned by the parent company Springs Group.
“When I first heard about the amendment, I thought this just makes sense. They already have the space, they have these pubs where people are smoking. Why not enhance the smoking patios and become a little more like a lounge, set some games up, make it more appealing to this generation,” said Laura Rowse, co-owner of Cheeky’s Cannabis.
Rowse, who also has a location in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighborhood, views the partnership with Billy Miner as a pilot project to assess consumer demand and troubleshoot challenges. If successful, she plans to expand to another pub in Maple Ridge and a new location in Mission.
“We’re very grateful to have their support. When I first heard about the amendment, I thought this just makes sense,” Rowse added. Inspired by cannabis consumption spaces she visited in the U.S., including the Four Twenty Bank in Palm Springs, Rowse envisions a community space that offers more than just drinking.
Other Cannabis Consumption Initiatives
Seed and Stone, a small cannabis chain, is developing a similar space at its store operated in partnership with the Songhees First Nations on Vancouver Island. Founder and CEO Vikram Sachdeva is working with local leadership to create a space with a food truck and an area for customers to enjoy cannabis.
In Victoria, Sam Jones, owner of 2% Jazz Coffee, began hosting cannabis-themed events in April. “There’s no smoking indoors at all. No buying, nothing like that. It’s just an open cafe where people can go out on the patio and smoke a joint,” Jones explained. The events serve as learning sessions for those interested in cannabis.
In Cumberland, Michael Arneja, owner of Trugreen Cannabis, is developing a community space next to his store featuring a cannabis consumption area, planning a “soft launch” for April 20.
Marianna Wolff, owner of Cannabis Cottage in Penticton, is hosting a grand opening for their outdoor consumption space on April 20. “This was what we were hoping to do from the beginning,” Wolff said. “We secured a space with the hope that at some point the government would allow for consumption spaces as well.”
Goals and Community Impact
Back in Maple Ridge, Rowse aims to provide a comfortable place for people to consume cannabis outside their homes. “My goal is for people to be comfortable, and I think this is a chance for a lot of pubs and similar businesses in B.C. to bring people back after COVID,” Rowse said.
These initiatives represent a growing trend in B.C., where businesses are adapting to new regulations and creating spaces for cannabis consumption, contributing to a more inclusive and social environment for cannabis users.
