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Cannabis compliance and enforcement

Last updated on October 24, 2023

The Community Safety Unit (CSU) can undertake a range of enforcement activities, including:

  • Conducting inspections
  • Issuing violation tickets
  • Obtaining warrants and issuing demands for information
  • Summoning witnesses
  • Conducting hearings
  • Seizing cannabis
  • Issuing administrative monetary penalties

The CSU can also recommend the prosecution of offences under the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act.

Administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) and the CSU

Community Safety Unit officers are authorized under the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act to conduct inspections of premises where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the sale, supply, production, or storage of cannabis has occurred or is occurring.

Using their regulatory powers, Community Safety Unit officers may enter premises where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the sale, supply, production or storage of cannabis has occurred or is occurring, and conduct an inspection, which may involve seizing cannabis and removing other items.

The Director of the CSU or their delegate may issue a Notice of Administrative Monetary Penalty to those who have sold or produced cannabis in contravention of the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act.

AMP amount

The administrative monetary penalty is equal to two times the retail value of the cannabis sold, produced, or possessed for the purpose of sale.

Notice of Administrative Monetary Penalty

The Notice of Administrative Monetary Penalty (NAMP) will include:

  • Information on the alleged contravention(s)
  • The amount of monetary penalty
  • The option to sign a waiver

Important: 

By signing a waiver, you are admitting to the contravention and accepting the payment of a monetary penalty in an amount equal to the retail value of the cannabis that the person sold, possessed for the purpose of sale or produced

Policy and forms

For more information, see Administrative Monetary Penalty Policy.

For the relevant forms, see:

Applying for an AMP reconsideration

A person may apply for a reconsideration of an administrative monetary penalty imposed by the Director in a Compliance Order, provided certain requirements are met.

Policy and forms

For more information, see Reconsideration Process Policy.

For the relevant forms, see:

Paying the AMP reconsideration application fee

To pay the AMP reconsideration application fee, access Express Pay.

AMP orders

The Director of the CSU makes three types of orders with respect to the imposition of administrative monetary penalties:

  • Concession Order under section 94(7) of the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act
  • Compliance Order under section 94(7) of the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act
  • Reconsideration Order under section 95(10) of the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act

For more information on the three types of orders, and to view reasons for orders issued by the Director of the CSU, see Community Safety Unit Orders.

Judicial review application process

A person may apply for judicial review within 30 days of receiving the Director’s decision (for example, a Reconsideration Order) as described under section 126 of the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act.

Violation tickets

Community Safety Unit officers are authorized to issue violation tickets for certain offences under the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act by the Violation Ticket Administration and Fines Regulation. If you receive a violation ticket from a Community Safety Unit officer, you may:

  • Pay the fine, or
  • Dispute the violation ticket within 30 days

Important:

You are deemed to have pleaded guilty to the offence under the Offence Act if you:

  • Pay the fine
  • Fail to dispute the ticket within 30 days, or
  • Dispute and fail to attend your hearing date

Cannabis seizures

Community Safety Unit officers are authorized to seize cannabis under the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act both with and without a warrant. See Cannabis Seizures for more information.

Provincial or criminal charges

Community Safety Unit officers appointed as Special Provincial Constables may:

  • Conduct investigations of contraventions of the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act in regard to non-licensees
  • Recommend charges to the British Columbia Prosecution Service

If charges are approved by the British Columbia Prosecution Service, you may have to attend the BC Supreme Court. The consequences for violating the provincial regulatory regime can be severe and may include:

  • A fine of up to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for corporations, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both, under the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act

Criminal charges may also be pursued for certain offences.