Two East Kootenay chambers of commerce are teaming up to find a way to protect and boost the lot of small business owners as Canada heads toward cannabis legalization this July.

The Kimberley & District and the Columbia Valley Chambers of Commerce report they are working to protect small business owners by submitting a policy resolution to over 200 delegates at the British Columbia Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting in Kamloops on Friday, May 25.

The resolution, entitled, Distribution Fairness for Craft Producers and Retailers (DFCPR) in the emerging cannabis market was adopted by the delegation making it an official policy of the BC Chamber of Commerce.

The DFCPR resolution requests the provincial government create a mechanism for craft producers to sell to private cannabis retailers; thus, developing a private distribution license for small producers.

This will relieve the Liquor Distribution Branch of the task of accommodating potentially thousands of small producers who will be regulated under the micro licence categories, and help these small producers gain access to the market.

Also included in the recommendation to the provincial government is to create a mechanism for craft growers to sell directly to private retailers instead of the larger Licensed Producers before distribution.

“Collaborating with Canadian Associate of Medical Cannabis Dispensaries, The Kimberley Chamber and Columbia Valley Chamber for advocacy for the Distribution Fairness for Craft Producers and Retailers Policy was the best thing we could have done. The BC Chamber passing the policy could be a game changer for our industry,” said Laurie Weitzel, president/owner of Earth’s Own Natural Ltd in Kimberley. “This will eliminate a distribution layer to keep the costs reasonable and more in line with current market prices and most importantly, keep the money in our communities.”

Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Susan Clovechok and President Andrea Tubbs, Kimberley & District Chamber of Commerce president Rachell Langlois, and manager Mike Guarnery attended the conference.

“Our board of directors reviewed these issues and the impacts on our local businesses and regional economies. We recognize that this is going to be a Federally-recognized industry and our recommendations will support our local retailers by creating a more effective supply-chain mechanism,” said Langlois.

In total, 57 resolutions were reviewed and discussed by the delegation representing 125 Chambers and Boards of Trade during the AGM on May 25 and 26.

Each year businesses, chambers of commerce and boards of trade develop policies that reflect grass-roots needs of B.C. businesses.

It’s through this process, that Kimberley/Columbia Valley policy was developed and submitted.