Canada’s federal government will provide the country’s cannabis farmers some funding – but not all crop programs will apply to marijuana producers.
Agricultural ministers from across different levels of government met earlier this month in Vancouver, deciding that cannabis producers (for both the medicinal and recreational sector) should qualify for part of the agricultural support provided to traditional farmers.
However, cannabis producers will not be able to access a couple of federal crop programs –specifically those programs that can protect them from certain financial risks.
BC agriculture minister Lana Popham told iPolitics that marijuana farmers would not be eligible for the farming programs AgriStability and AgriInvest. Both subsidies were created to help protect farmers from risks such as damaged crops and large market fluctuations.
Rick Burton, Saskatchewan deputy minister for agriculture, explained that cannabis growers will not be considered for both programs because the industry is still too unpredictable.
The federal, provincial, and territorial governments, however, have promised to keep a close eye on the industry as it develops.
“Governments agree to monitor this over the coming years as the cannabis industry matures and stabilizes,” a spokesperson said following the agricultural meeting ended July 20.
Forbes reported that while the US has similar subsidy programs for farmers, marijuana producers are not eligible for any of them; the substance – on the US federal level – remains a Schedule 1 dangerous drug.
