For over a month, a cannabis store named “Burb” has been operating in University Village, this being what the owner calls the world’s first dispensary near a university campus.
It took nearly three years for the company to open the store near the UBC campus in the face of opposition from some residents. In May 2021, almost 2,000 people living in the UBC area signed a petition opposing a dispensary in the vicinity.
“Many elementary and secondary school students pass by this area on the way to school and spend time in this area after school with friends,” the message from the petition initiators said. “By allowing cannabis retail to exist in this business plaza, we are putting vulnerable children at a high risk of exposure to substances they are too young for.”
Despite the resistance, Burb’s UBC location opened to the public Feb. 23. “We just looked at the map and identified a big area that’s not serviced, that has other services—shopping, grocery, alcohol, just regular services—and we felt like this would be a good opportunity. The University of British Columbia is very progressive, and we really believe in destigmatizing cannabis,” said John Kaye, the CEO and co-founder at Burb.
Kaye says the fears of those who opposed the opening are unfounded. “Almost all the signatures, or close to 100 per cent, were from the Asian community. We felt like it was maybe fear of property values declining, fear of the unknown, and it was tied to stigma. Cannabis is not viewed favourably in China.
“But here, it’s a legal business, and British Columbia is a leader in the cannabis industry globally. This eliminates the grey market dealers. Besides, since the store opened, there hasn’t been a single complaint,” he said.
Andrei B., a 23-year-old area resident, says he’s pleased the Burb has opened. “It provides students with the opportunity to experiment with safe products, which is legal and not out of the ordinary. Moreover, it’s conveniently located near food places for when hunger strikes.”
Burb’s primary target audience ranges between 19 and 35 years old, but it caters to all individuals over 19. Customers must present a piece of government ID, just like at a liquor store. “Our store’s actual customers encompass a wide range: locals, medicinal users, students, faculty, construction workers, and others. There’s no other university with this type of access,” Kaye says.
As expected, most customers visit the store on Friday evenings, coinciding with the start of student parties.
ADA BUCUR IS A CAMPUS RESIDENT, POSSESSES A GRAPHIC DESIGN DIPLOMA, A PHOTOGRAPHY CERTIFICATE, AND OVER TWO DECADES OF JOURNALISM EXPERTISE GAINED IN HER NATIVE ROMANIA.