Extra! Extra! Mail Order Marijuana Now Legal in BC
BC now allows licensed cannabis retailers to ship recreational cannabis through Canada Post and other approved carriers. In July 2022, the BC government expanded cannabis delivery options, with the most significant change being the legalization of recreational mail order marijuana for any licensed retailer in the province.
Until now, illicit mail-order marijuana operations across Canada have operated outside the reach of licensed retailers, who lacked the regulatory framework to compete online. BC’s new delivery rules give licensed stores the tools to challenge that black market directly. If the program succeeds, other provinces are expected to adopt similar policies.
Cannabis retailers in BC should act quickly — legal mail order marijuana opens a province-wide customer base that was previously inaccessible to licensed stores.
TechPOS’s cannabis POS system connects in-store inventory management with online orders, ensuring stock levels stay accurate when mail orders are placed.
BC Cannabis Delivery Rules: What Licensed Retailers Need to Know
On July 8th, 2022, BC opened up recreational cannabis delivery beyond the private in-person delivery services already operated by a handful of stores. The new changes make it legal for any licensed recreational store to sell cannabis online and ship it through Canada Post (or other delivery services).
The rules specify that the delivery address must be in BC, the receiver must be 19 years or older, and a name and signature are required on receipt. Residents are still only allowed to purchase a maximum of 30 grams (or equivalent) at once.
Compliance with purchase limits and age verification requirements is built into the order and delivery workflow for licensed retailers using cannabis retail software.
Approved Carriers for Cannabis Mail Order
Canada Post will likely become the go-to option for most licensed retailers broadening their scope of delivery, but other delivery services are included in this change. These include the likes of FedEx, Purolator, UPS, Shift, and Uber.
Mail Order Marijuana Expands Access for Rural BC Residents
Legal mail-order marijuana likely won’t become the go-to option for cannabis consumers in large metropolitan regions like Vancouver simply because they already enjoy excellent access and choice. But for those BC residents living in more rural areas, this regulatory shift will significantly impact when and what they can buy.
Now, if someone lives in an area with no cannabis store or limited options, they can order online from the store of their choice — even if it’s hundreds of miles away. That translates into more selection, better prices, and safer access.
Legal Mail Order Marijuana Levels the Playing Field for Licensed Retailers
Licensed cannabis retailers in BC have long awaited this regulatory change. As Jaclynn Pehota, executive director of the Retail Cannabis Council of BC, told BIV, “This is a significant tool for our members. Government heard our request and responded. Knowing that the government supports and is creating parity within the legal cannabis industry will help retailers thrive.”
Licensed retailers can now sell cannabis to customers anywhere in BC, rather than serving only a local geographic area. This province-wide reach was unavailable to licensed stores just months before the July 2022 rule change.
How Black Market Mail Order Has Hurt Licensed Retailers
It’s also a big win for the legal industry. Mail-order marijuana has been an ongoing issue for regulators and licensed retailers since the launch of recreational cannabis in 2018. For years, online black market stores have pulled Canadians away from the regulated market, often offering higher (illegal) potencies at bargain basement prices.
That illicit online market dominance is changing in BC, where licensed retailers can now compete directly through legal mail order marijuana. For the first time, licensed retailers can compete against the illicit mail-order marijuana market so long as they are set up to do so.
Set Up Your Cannabis Online Store to Start Shipping
BC cannabis retailers can capitalize on legal mail order marijuana by launching an eCommerce solution for cannabis retailers and integrating a shipping solution. Both steps are required to reach customers across the province.
eCommerce Platforms That Support Cannabis Sales
Many cannabis stores in BC already have an eCommerce portal for Click-and-Collect and private deliveries. Leafly, Buddi, Dutchie, and WooCommerce are just some of the cannabis-friendly platforms supporting online cannabis sales.
The second step is integrating a shipping solution that scales with online cannabis sales without creating additional back-end complexity.
TechPOS Integrates with Machool for Seamless Shipping
The TechPOS ecosystem comes fully integrated with Machool, a software that brings all your shipping needs into one place. Machool ensures you get the cheapest rate, can quickly print labels, and can import your accounts into a cohesive system. Machool simplifies cannabis shipping for licensed retailers. Thanks to integrations with 15 service providers, including Canada Post, FedEx, Uber, Rivo, Flashbox, and more.
TechPOS Helps BC Cannabis Retailers Adapt and Grow
TechPOS is your all-in-one omnichannel solution that makes it easy to move with the ever-changing regulations. We are a small team of innovators striving to make life easier for cannabis retailers across North America.
Whether that means express self-checkout options for cannabis dispensaries for busy urban locations, cannabis POS system built for Canadian retailers for BC retailers, or cross-platform cannabis inventory analytics that updates in real-time — TechPOS is designed to streamline all your business processes.
Curious about how we can help you succeed? Schedule a demo today.