If you live in Canada, and you think of British Columbia, you probably think of mountains, nature, hippies and marijuana. Weed is such a part of the culture of British Columbia that it is no surprise that the province is the weed capital of Canada.

Why is this the case though? Is it just reputation or is British Columbia really the place to be if you love cannabis?

First, in British Columbia the use of marijuana was illegal before October 17, 2018 but it was always relatively tolerated and was more common place than anywhere else in the country. A lot of this has to do with the fact that the climate of British Columbia is relatively mild, plus there are many hills and forests, which makes the province ideal for growing the plant. Most of the marijuana grown in British Columbia is grown outside, rather than in a facility with hydroponics. This helps to give the cannabis grown there a unique taste all its own.

In a study done by Simon Fraser University and the University of Victoria, it was found that 53 per cent of British Columbia residents had tried cannabis at least once in their lives. In Vancouver, even before legalization, there were cannabis coffee shops where weed was smoked openly, and it was tolerated by police. In 2018, Statistics Canada released a report that stated 20 per cent of the population of British Columbia had consumed marijuana in the past three months.

The sheer number of grow-ops in British Columbia prior to legalization also cemented the province with its title as the weed capital of Canada. In 2008, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police estimated there were 20,000 grow-ups in residential homes alone in the province.

In all, it is estimated that cannabis accounts for $6 billion in revenue for the province. The province also produces 40 per cent of all the cannabis in Canada. This makes cannabis one of the most valuable crops in the province.

Where does this love of weed come from for British Columbia? Well, for that we can thank those who refused to fight in the Vietnam War in the United States. Thousands of men came up from the United States in the 1960’s and 1970’s to avoid being drafted. When they came into British Columbia, they found a place perfect for growing marijuana and they got to work. This counter-culture found tolerant communities and law enforcement that was not too concerned with marijuana. This allowed the industry to grow immensely over the next few decades. By the time marijuana was legalized in Canada, British Columbia had already enjoyed a semi-legalization for decades.

It isn’t just about how much cannabis that British Columbia produces, it is also about the quality. British Columbia cannabis crops are the product of experimentation over the course of decades. The quality of the cultivators of cannabis is well-known throughout the world and especially in Canada. Decades of experience and passion for cannabis have produced some of the highest-quality strains available. Many cannabis lovers have stated they can tell if a strain was grown in British Columbia just based on the smell.

Like with everything, there are competitions for cannabis. Called the Cannabis Cup, growers from British Columbia have taken the top prize many times. The competition was created in 1988 by High Times as a way of spreading the word about quality cannabis and it has done wonders for the industry in British Columbia.

Now with legalization, British Columbia has the potential to see its cannabis market thrive even more. The province already has some of the most experienced cultivators in the country, and a market that has already been established.

One could say that cannabis producers in British Columbia had an unfair advantage thanks to the relaxed environment of the province towards marijuana. While other provinces had a much harsher approach to marijuana and the growers who produced it. With the lax enforcement in British Columbia, growers gained the ability to try more things, experiment more and create strains of the highest quality. This helped to give the British Columbia marijuana industry a reputation for being high quality.

If you love cannabis and you live in Canada, then you know all about the quality of the bud from BC. With legalization, British Columbia will see its industry only grow and it will become one of the biggest money makers for the entire province. British Columbia cannabis is just that good.