Enforcement actions and statistics

The Community Safety Unit (CSU) delivers a province-wide compliance and enforcement program to prioritize public health and safety, protect children and youth, and keep the criminal element out of the cannabis industry. Learn more about the enforcement process.

On this page

• Enforcement summary
• Education visits
• Seized cannabis
• Online investigations
• Orders issued

Enforcement summary

Since 2018, CSU enforcement officers have:

• Seized over $40 million in cannabis
• Disrupted 1062 websites
• Conducted 369 educational visits, and
• 238 Stores have complied.

Ongoing efforts remain a priority. CSU investigators engage with unlicensed retailers in communities throughout British Columbia, actively carrying out compliance and enforcement activities against unauthorized cannabis retailers and producers across the province.

Education visits

The CSU promotes voluntary compliance with provincial cannabis laws through targeted education and awareness activities. Since 2018,

• 369 educational visits have been conducted, resulting in 238 stores becoming compliant.

When unlicensed stores choose to remain in operation despite education efforts, the CSU employs a progressive enforcement approach.

Learn more about the enforcement process.

Seized cannabis

Escalation of enforcement action is determined on a case-by-case basis and will consider factors such as:

• public safety
• the integrity of the legal market, and
• stakeholder and community concerns

 The CSU has conducted 120 enforcements, seizing over $40 million in cannabis products.

Learn more about cannabis seizures. 

Online investigations

Many illegal cannabis operators sell illegal products online through unregulated websites. The CSU is adapting its strategies to address these new challenges. 

In collaboration with enforcement partners, the CSU has investigated 1,688 online cannabis stores and successfully disrupted 1,062 of them.

Orders issued

Under the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act there are three types of orders issued by the Director of the Community Safety Unit (CSU) with respect to the imposition of administrative monetary penalties:

Concession Order – Section 94(7)

Learn more about Concession Orders or view the archive of Concession Orders issued.

Compliance Order – Section 94(7)

Learn more about Compliance Orders or view the archive or Compliance Orders issued.

Reconsideration Order – Section 95(10)

Learn more about Reconsideration Orders or view the archive of Reconsideration Orders issued.