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British Columbia has long been recognized as one of the world’s most renowned cannabis-growing regions. The phrase “BC Bud” has become synonymous with top-tier genetics, artisanal cultivation, and a rebellious, independent spirit that shaped the province’s cannabis culture long before legalization. From the underground growers of the Kootenays and Gulf Islands to the activists and retailers who risked everything to fight for legal access, BC’s cannabis story is one of resistance, innovation, and an unrelenting pursuit of quality.
Today, BC’s legal cannabis industry faces a complex and often frustrating reality—independent micro growers and small craft producers struggle to compete with corporate interests, while high taxation and government overregulation threaten the sustainability of this new legal industry. However, the spirit of BC cannabis remains strong, with craft growers, micro-producers and independent retailers carrying the torch forward.
But to truly understand where BC’s cannabis culture is headed, we first have to look back at how it started.
Long before cannabis became the counterculture symbol of British Columbia, hemp was introduced as a practical and industrial crop. As early as the 1600s, hemp was grown across North America for rope, textiles, and durable materials, particularly for use in shipbuilding and fishing industries. By the 19th century, BC’s coastal communities had established hemp farms to produce strong fiber for sails, nets, and clothing.
While some Indigenous groups in North America used plant-based medicines in ceremonial practices, we couldn’t find verifiable historical evidence of cannabis being used for medicinal or spiritual purposes in BC’s Indigenous communities. If you’re aware of oral traditions or historical records please let us know, we’d love to be wrong!
The introduction of hemp farming was largely driven by European settlers and industrial demand. However, as cannabis prohibition took hold, hemp cultivation was indiscriminately targeted and largely wiped out, setting the stage for nearly a century of criminalization and underground cannabis culture.
In 1923, Canada became one of the first countries in the world to criminalize cannabis—despite there being no public debate, no widespread cannabis use, and no scientific justification. The government added cannabis to the Narcotics Drug Act Amendment Bill, grouping it alongside opium and cocaine. For nearly 40 years, cannabis remained largely underground, with little enforcement due to its low-profile use.
If you’re looking for a deeper dive into this history including some finny anecdotes check out Cannabis in Canada 101 by Stok’d Cannabis.
By the 1950s and 60s, however, authorities began taking a harsher stance on cannabis. Inspired by global drug policy shifts—particularly in the United States’ “War on Drugs”—law enforcement in BC started targeting small-scale rural cannabis growers, particularly in remote communities that had been cultivating in secrecy for decades.
Despite increasing criminalization and police crackdowns, cannabis never disappeared—it simply went deeper underground. The harsh drug laws of this era set the stage for the massive counterculture movement of the 1960s and 70s, which would transform BC into a cannabis mecca.
The 1960s and 70s brought a radical shift in cultural attitudes. BC, with its vast wilderness, liberal cities, and anti-establishment ethos, became a hotbed for counterculture activity. As American draft dodgers, hippies, and activists flocked to the province, so did cannabis cultivation, consumption, and experimentation.
During this period, BC’s Kootenay region, the Gulf Islands, and Vancouver Island became known as hubs for high-quality cannabis cultivation. Many of the growers who settled in these regions were pioneers of organic and small-batch cultivation techniques, perfecting soil health, nutrient balancing, and strain genetics that would later make BC Bud world-famous.
However, with increased production came increased law enforcement pressure. The 1970s and 80s saw the rise of large-scale police crackdowns, with helicopters patrolling the mountains of the Kootenays and mass raids on growers in the Gulf Islands. Yet, despite these efforts, the underground market only grew stronger—a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of BC’s cannabis pioneers.
By the late 1980s, BC had cemented its reputation as a cannabis powerhouse, with smugglers exporting BC Bud across North America and underground growers refining some of the most sought-after genetics in the world.
The 1990s and early 2000s saw BC’s cannabis industry move from the shadows into a legal grey area. While cannabis was still federally illegal, BC’s attitude toward enforcement had drastically changed. Vancouver, in particular, became a hub for dispensaries and medical cannabis activism, with dozens of unlicensed retailers openly selling cannabis products.
British Columbia’s path to cannabis legalization was not a passive evolution—it was the result of decades of activism, legal battles, and civil disobedience led by individuals and organizations who refused to accept prohibition. Among the most well-known figures in this fight was Marc Emery, the self-proclaimed “Prince of Pot,” who gained international recognition for openly selling cannabis seeds and using his profits to fund legalization efforts. Emery’s defiance of both Canadian and U.S. laws helped bring BC genetics to the world stage, making strains like BC Bud globally renowned. His multiple arrests and eventual extradition to the United States in 2010 cemented his status as one of the most controversial figures in cannabis activism.
Dana Larsen, another prominent BC activist, took a more grassroots approach to reform. As a longtime advocate for decriminalization, he founded several dispensaries and spearheaded campaigns like Sensible BC, which sought to remove criminal penalties for cannabis possession at the provincial level. His activism extended beyond legalization, with efforts to promote drug policy reform on a broader scale, including safe supply initiatives and psychedelic legalization.
BC’s early compassion clubs worked quietly but effectively in the shadows, providing medical cannabis to thousands of patients long before Health Canada acknowledged its therapeutic value. Organizations like the BC Compassion Club Society and the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club operated in legal limbo, defying authorities to ensure that those suffering from chronic pain, cancer, and other illnesses had access to safe, high-quality cannabis. The compassion clubs were among the first to normalize cannabis as medicine, building the foundation for the country’s medical cannabis framework in the early 2000s.
Ted Smith, founder of the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club, became another key figure in BC’s fight for medical cannabis. His activism was not just about access but also about legal precedent—his repeated arrests led to landmark court cases that helped establish the right of patients to use cannabis for medical purposes. Smith’s commitment to the cause extended to education and advocacy, as he continued to push for fairer regulations even after legalization.
Another turning point in BC’s cannabis movement came with the rise of the ‘Stop the Violence BC’ initiative, a coalition of academics, law enforcement officials, and public health experts who advocated for the end of cannabis prohibition. Unlike earlier activists, this group approached legalization from a harm reduction perspective, arguing that regulated cannabis sales would reduce gang violence and improve public safety. Their efforts played a critical role in shifting public perception and pressuring policymakers to take cannabis reform seriously.
The impact of these activists—and many others who risked legal consequences to challenge prohibition—cannot be overstated. BC’s cannabis culture did not emerge by accident; it was cultivated through years of resistance, education, and community organizing. While legalization has transformed the industry, it is the work of these pioneers that laid the groundwork for everything that followed.
On October 17, 2018, Canada became one of the first G7 nations to legalize recreational cannabis, marking a historic victory for cannabis advocates. However, for many in British Columbia—particularly the traditional growers who had spent decades perfecting their craft—the transition to the legal market has been a little rocky. What was meant to be an opportunity for small-scale cultivators to enter a regulated and thriving industry quickly became a bureaucratic nightmare, exposing flaws in the plan.
BC’s traditional growers, who had long been the backbone of the province’s cannabis culture, found themselves facing insurmountable barriers. Excessive excise taxes made it nearly impossible for craft producers to remain profitable, forcing many to either shut down operations or return to the unregulated market. On top of that, restrictive licensing requirements disproportionately favoured large corporations, leaving independent growers unable to afford the steep financial and regulatory costs required to transition legally. The system, which was supposed to integrate the legacy market, instead pushed out the very people who built BC’s cannabis reputation in the first place.
At the same time, large-scale corporate cannabis flooded the market with mass-produced flower, often prioritizing volume over quality. The government-controlled distribution models across the country added another layer of difficulty, with excessive red tape slowing down product releases, reducing consumer access to high-quality craft cannabis, and limiting retailers’ ability to source directly from small producers.
Despite these challenges, BC’s craft cannabis movement has remained resilient. Small-scale growers and advocates continue to push for reforms that would create a more equitable playing field, allowing independent cultivators to compete in a market that they helped create. One positive development with the regs is the introduction of direct-to-retailer initiatives (Direct Delivery in BC, Sell Through in Ontario). This allows brands like us and our friends to sell directly to retailers. Just as helpful is the direct-to-consumer option now possible across BC, coming soon to VCC customers!
While legalization has undoubtedly reshaped the industry, BC’s cannabis culture—rooted in quality, sustainability, and craft cultivation—continues to punch well above its weight domestically and internationally.
With legalization now firmly in place, the future of BC’s cannabis industry is generally bright albeit with a few caveats. One of the biggest questions is whether traditional BC Craft—the small-scale cultivators who built a global brand for premium cannabis—will finally receive the recognition and support they deserve. Many continue to struggle under a regulatory system that seems to have been designed with large corporations in mind, leaving them fighting for a more inclusive and accessible market.
Despite these challenges, BC remains a global leader in cannabis production, with its reputation for high-quality flower only growing stronger. Maintaining this leadership will require a shift in policies that better support craft growers and preserve the unique cultivation practices that set BC Craft apart.
Another crucial factor shaping the industry’s future is the growing role of Indigenous cannabis businesses. Many First Nations communities are asserting their sovereignty over cannabis production and sales, operating outside of provincial frameworks and advocating for self-regulation. Their involvement is adding a new dimension to BC’s cannabis economy, raising important discussions about Indigenous rights, economic development, and fair market access.
While the fight for fair regulation is far from over, BC’s deep-rooted cannabis culture, history of activism, and commitment to quality ensure that the province will remain a key player in the Canadian cannabis landscape for years to come. Whether through policy reforms, craft cultivation, or Indigenous-led enterprises, the next chapter of BC’s cannabis story is still being written.
BC’s cannabis history is one of resilience, innovation, and a deep-rooted passion for the plant. From underground growers in the mountains to the pioneers of legalization, BC has played an essential role in shaping global cannabis culture. Even as the drive towards legalization became unstoppable, BC was again at the forefront of the industry. While the road since legalization hasn’t always been smooth, we remain bullish on the future of the industry and BC Craft’s role in it.
If you’re an OG, a new G or anything in between come by VCC Farmgate and burn with us as we tell stories about the way it was, the way it is and the way it could be!
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