“The Box Has Become an Indispensable Part of My Life”: A Case Study of Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club and its Consumption Space

Community-based models of cannabis cultivation, distribution, and consumption—such as cannabis clubs—have been documented across Europe, North America, South America, and New Zealand since the 1990s. For the most part, these models have a history of operating outside existing legislation and regulations. Jurisdictions that have legalized cannabis have approached community-based models in opposite ways (eliminate vs. regulate). Canada legalizing cannabis has resulted in more stringent enforcement and concerted efforts to close these models despite documented health and social benefits. This paper presents a case study of the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club (VCBC) and its consumption space—The Box. We conducted a survey of VCBC members to explore four domains: demographics, cannabis consumption, access to and use of The Box, and the impact of its temporary closure due to COVID-19. From the survey data (n = 104), descriptive statistics were generated and three conceptual avenues were identified. The majority of respondents were 40 years old and older and identified as White (European descent) cisgendered men and women. The majority reported an income of $40,000 or less and a housing status that prevented them from smoking. Close to 75% of our sample consumed cannabis multidaily for therapeutic purposes primarily, but also for a mix of recreation, social, spiritual, and traditional healing purposes. Smoking was the preferred mode of consumption. Respondents accessed The Box daily or weekly. Reasons and benefits for using The Box fell into three categories: public health, harm reduction, and wellness perspectives. Conceptually, we found that The Box acted as a therapeutic space and offered a much-needed consumption space for smokers. We also identified a need to unpack the concept of safety. Overall, the survey reinforces the need for an equity-informed approach to community-based models and cannabis consumption spaces in Canada.

Community-based models of cannabis cultivation, distribution, and consumption tend to operate outside existing legislation and regulations (Decorte, 2015).These models have been historically "tolerated" by authorities and, as such, have always existed in legal limbo and have episodically faced raids, seizures, shutdowns, and legal proceedings (Decorte, 2015;Hathaway & Rossiter, 2007).Jurisdictions that have legalized cannabis have approached community-based models in two ways.In Uruguay, for example, nonprofit self-managed cannabis clubs have been included in the cannabis legislation and are regulated by the government (Decorte et al., 2017).Membership is based on age and a monthly fee.People who use CTP are allowed to join.On-site consumption is permitted.In contrast, Canada's cannabis legislation (the Cannabis Act) was designed to create a government-sanctioned commercial market for recreational cannabis exclusively (Bennett & Young, 2022).Provinces and territories were tasked with enacting laws and regulations to enforce the Cannabis Act in their respective jurisdictions, resulting in more stringent enforcement by newly created enforcement units and concerted efforts to close existing community-based models (Capler & Bear, 2023).As noted by Capler and Bear (2023), Legalization in Canada has had a stronger ability to dismantle and suppress the Compassion Club model than prohibition ever did.By removing the legal grey area, legalization either pushed Compassion Clubs fully inside a regulatory framework that excluded their core values, or it pushed them completely outside the zone of tolerance they had previously inhabited (p.200).
In the province of British Columbia (BC), where we conducted our research, long-standing community-based models that had been operating since the 1990s (e.g., British Columbia Compassion Club Society 1 and Vancouver Island Compassion Society 2 ) were forced to close their doors following cannabis legalization because they faced government sanctions.Others, like the Blue Door dispensary, recently closed after being raided 3 by BC's Community Safety Unit (CSU)the unit responsible for compliance and enforcement of the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act.Sites that have remained open despite raids and administrative penalties, such as the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club (VCBC), currently face an uphill battle to preserve the community-based model that many people who use CTP have relied on for decades.Our case study of VCBC was undertaken in this complex and rapidly changing policy environment.We identified VCBC as an important case study because it remained opened four years into cannabis legalization, continued to operate as a community access point for people who use CTP, and provided a consumption space to members (known as The Box).
Unlike other jurisdictions (Decorte et al., 2017), designated cannabis consumption spaces that allow indoor smoking are not permitted in Canada.Prior to legalization, concerns were raised by members of the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation (Health Canada, 2016) about the disproportionate impact of smoke-free regulations that prohibit indoor smoking and limit outside smoking on structurally vulnerable populations.Others called for a harm reduction and equity-informed approach to cannabis consumption spaces (e.g., see Brown & Gagnon, 2018) highlighting that "unintended consequences of overregulation" such as eviction or consuming in spaces that pose more risks (e.g., cars) needed to be balanced with the goals of reducing exposure to second-hand smoke and discouraging smoking.It is worth noting that consumption spaces for people who smoke other psychoactive substances, such as stimulants, have been slow to implement in Canada compared to consumption spaces for people who inject, ingest, or snort (Gehring et al., 2022).The first legally sanctioned indoor safer inhalation site in North America opened in 2018 and closed in 2020 (Bourque et al., 2019;Gehring et al., 2022).To our knowledge, only one temporary legally sanctioned indoor safer inhalation site currently exists (e.g., The Harbour Inhalation Site in Victoria) and a handful of outdoor sites operate in BC.
The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of an instrumental case study of VCBC.Our main objective was two-fold.Empirically, we wanted to describe the experience of VCBC members and more specifically, members who smoke CTP and accessed The Box.This particular group of members is currently located at the intersection of three important issues arising from cannabis legalization in Canada.First, they use CTP.As noted above, people who use CTP in Canada have historically relied on community-based models to meet their needs.This has not changed following legalization (Ng et al., 2022).Second, they access cannabis via a middle-ground option (i.e., VCBC) that operates outside the government-run medical program and the government-sanctioned recreational market.Third, VCBC members smoke CTP, which poses a challenge because of smoking-free regulations and cannabis-specific regulations that came into effect following cannabis legalization (Gagnon et al., 2020;Sorensen et al., 2021).Conceptually, we wanted to explore ways of thinking more broadly about the experience of people who smoke CTP and the role of cannabis consumption spaces.
The Case: VCBC Founded in 1996, VCBC was modeled after the original San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club.The San Francisco Cannabis Buyers Club was opened by Dennis Peron in 1991 to make medical cannabis available to people diagnosed with AIDS and people living with other chronic health conditions such as glaucoma, arthritis, and neurological disorders (Malott, 2009).By 1996, when VCBC opened, Peron and his small team were serving 12,000 members (Malott, 2009).VCBC started as a small grassroots project to provide compassionate access to cannabis to people living with chronic illnesses and symptoms (Smith & Kittel, 2019).In 2001, it secured the first location to provide members with a storefront experience and a consumption space.It has continued to do so despite having to move to another location in 2002 and more recently, in February 2023.In 2012, it became a registered nonprofit society governed by a board of directors (Smith & Kittel, 2019).Working with unregulated small-scale growers and collecting donations, VCBC was recording an average of $4,500 in daily sales in the year leading to cannabis legalization.
At the time of writing, VCBC staff served an average of 8,000 members in-person and online (J.Kittel, personal communication, March 30, 2023).Applying for a membership is free.However, each applicant is required to complete an application form, provide proof of condition and/or recommendation from a healthcare provider, and submit a copy of a photo ID.This means that all members have been screened for age requirements (19 years and older in BC) and health requirements.They have also agreed to a basic code of conduct (e.g., infection prevention measures, no scent policy, and tolerance zero for disruptive and disrespectful behaviors toward staff and other members).VCBC members have access to a comprehensive menu of affordable and high-quality cannabis and cannabis products.Cumulating more than two decades of experience in making cannabis products, the club offers products such as capsules, suppositories, topicals, and high-THC edibles.VCBC prices are more affordable than legal market prices.For example, a prerolled joint at VCBC is $3 below current BC market prices. 4VCBC dried flower ranges from $6 to $8 per gram, whereas market prices can go up to $13 per gram. 4High-THC (75 mg) cookies, which have proven particularly helpful for members with severe pain, 5 sell for $2.50 each.In comparison, a cookie containing 10 mg of THC (the maximum dosage currently allowed under the Cannabis Act) costs $11.99 5 in a licensed store.
The Box, VCBC's consumption space, was been accessible to members for more than two decades.In 2016, VCBC was granted an exemption 6 from the municipal government under section 6(c) of its Cannabis-Related Business Regulation Bylaw to allow on-site consumption.As VCBC founder Ted Smith writes 7 : The exemption granted to the VCBC is the first of its kind in the country but it is very clear every city in Canada should have spaces for patients to quietly consume their medicine protected from the weather, thugs and police harassment.As we march forward into a legal scheme, let us hope all levels of government work together to help manage these safe inhalation facilities.
The Box (see Figure 1) included tables and chairs.Its walls were covered with art and bulletin boards.Equipment was available for members to prepare and consume cannabis on-site (e.g., trays, rolling paper, scissors, grinders, etc.).In December 2022, VCBC was served a notice of eviction 7 after 22 years at the same location and relocated to a new location at the end of February 2023.Its commitment to providing "a dignified space [for members] to consume their medicine" (Smith & Kittel, 2019, p. 5) remained; however, The Box described above and in our findings no longer exists.
As we were conducting our case study, BC launched a round of public consultations to determine whether consumption spaces should be permitted (Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, 2022a).The consultations were limited to recreational consumption and they excluded indoor smoking (and vaping).Nonetheless, survey respondents did indicate an interest in and support for indoor consumption spaces for people who smoke cannabis (Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, 2022b).Among survey respondents who reported consuming cannabis, concerns about consumption spaces were notably lower than among those who did not consume cannabis (Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, 2022b).Likewise, perceived benefits were higher among respondents who reported consuming cannabis than those who did not.Interestingly, a little over a third of the 16,092 respondents reported difficulties in accessing a space to smoke (or vape) because of provincial regulations, municipal bylaws, and strata and tenancy agreements (Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, 2022b).
VCBC has a long history of legal victories for the rights of people who use CTP.Prior to legalization, it faced several raids by law enforcement and was successful in arguing that CTP is protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom.In 2009, VCBC was involved in a court case that resulted in a landmark Supreme Court of Canada decision (R. v. Smith, 2015 SCC 34) after the person responsible for making its cannabis products was charged with possession of THC for the purpose of trafficking and possession of cannabis.In 2015, the Court ruled that prohibiting nondried forms of medical cannabis limited liberty and security of the person under section 7 of the Charter in a manner that is arbitrary and not justified under section 1, the provision allowing "reasonable limits" to be placed on Charter rights if certain conditions are met.This unanimous decision confirmed that people who use CTP have a constitutional right to consume cannabis in other forms (e.g., oils, teas, and baked goods).However, to this day, access to cannabis products that meet the needs of people living with chronic illnesses and symptoms remains challenging due to barriers inherent to the medical cannabis program, the THC limits set out in the Cannabis Act, costs, and access (mail delivery only).
After the Smith's decision, VCBC continued to operate and maintained its services when the Cannabis Act came into force in October 2018.Following an inspection (May 2019) and two raids by the CSU (November 2019 and July 2020), VCBC was imposed a fine totaling $6.5 million for selling cannabis illegally (January 2022).A month later, VCBC was informed by the CSU that its website would be closed effective February 14, 2022.Our study was conducted during this uncertain period and amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the temporary closure of The Box.The Box reopened in April 2022, one month after our survey ended.As we noted above, The Box in its original form closed on February 28, 2023, when VCBC moved to a new location.On March 23, 2023, the CSU conducted a third raid at the new location (Kittel, 2023) to seize VCBC's inventory and money.In response to this raid, VCBC announced it would be seeking a court injunction and taking legal action against the provincial and federal governments (Egan-Elliott, 2023).

Study Design
Case study methodology as defined by Stake (1995Stake ( , 2005) ) offers a flexible approach to exploring and describing a particular case in its real-life context.The case can be defined as an individual, a group, a program, a city, a country, or a particular phenomenon of interest (Stake, 1995(Stake, , 2005)).Stakes (1995,2005) identifies three types of case studies: intrinsic, instrumental, and collective (or multiple).An intrinsic case study is undertaken to analyze the particularities of a unique case and develop a better understanding of this case alone (Stake, 1995(Stake, , 2005)).In contrast, an instrumental case study is primarily undertaken to examine a case that can provide insights into a broader phenomenon (Stake, 1995(Stake, , 2005)).When this approach is extended to multiple cases, it becomes a collective case study (or multiple case studies; Stake, 1995Stake, , 2005)).Case study research starts from a simple yet complex question: "what can be learned from the single case?" (Stake, 2005, p. 443).For this study, we identified that VCBC and its consumption space could help us learn more about the experience of people who smoke CTP in a designated community space against a backdrop of cannabis legalization and the "slow eradication of compassionate access to cannabis." 8 Our case study was developed collaboratively with VCBC over the summer of 2021, during a period of great uncertainty for VCBC related to the pandemic and its legal standing.The study design was constrained by several contextual factors and informed by preparatory fieldwork at VCBC and consultation with the VCBC leadership team.First, it was understood that VCBC members were particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and the safest way to collect data would have to be prioritized (Sevelius et al., 2020).Second, because The Box was temporarily closed, we had to find ways of reaching VCBC members when they came to VCBC in-person and when they received VCBC electronic communications.Third, the uncertain context and urgency of documenting the experience of members in the face of a possible permanent closure required flexibility and creativity.For all these reasons, we decided to conduct a descriptive survey that a convenience sample of VCBC members could complete online or using a hard copy.Case studies typically draw on multiple sources of data such as interviews, questionnaires, observations, documents, and so forth (Stakes, 1995(Stakes, , 2005)).Like many other researchers conducting research during the COVID-19 pandemic (Krause et al., 2021;Sevelius et al., 2020;Shinew et al., 2022), we had to turn to other sources of data (e.g., news stories, VCBC documents, court documents, virtual discussion with VCBC leadership, and grey and scientific literature) to inform the survey development, contextualize the study and its findings, and open the analysis to conceptual inquiry.
Survey research provided opportunities to gather data in real-time during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is not without limitations (Hlatshwako et al., 2021).In designing the study and survey, we used the following strategies to increase rigor and participation (Hlatshwako et al., 2021).We developed the survey with questions drawn from prior surveys of medical cannabis use (Walsh et al., 2013) and added questions related to The Box and its closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.An interdisciplinary panel of experts from public health, psychology, nursing, social work, and policy reviewed the final draft of the survey.The leadership team at VBCB also provided input and ensured that the questions were written in a way that was clear and accessible to members.The final version of the survey had 34 questions covering four domains: demographics, cannabis consumption, access to and use of The Box, and the impact of a temporary closure of The Box due to COVID-19.We used an open-access survey platform and organized the questions to optimize flow.Providing a hard copy option was important to address the technology divide that became apparent during COVID-19 and thus, increase participation among VCBC members who are structurally vulnerable (e.g., precariously housed; Sevelius et al., 2020).Hard copies also provided a way for members with underlying health conditions and increased vulnerability to COVID-19 to pick up a survey at the same time as their cannabis products and then return it at their next visit-as opposed to being forced to fill out the survey on-site and spend more time in the shared space.Finally, we used existing electronic communication channels to recruit members for the survey who were using The Box before its temporary closure.This form of communication was important, especially for members who switched to online ordering during the pandemic.

Data Collection and Analysis
After securing ethics approval, an invitation with an online link to the survey was sent to all VCBC members and also shared via VCBC's communications channels (e.g., social media and website until February 14, at which point the website was taken down by the CSU).Recruitment posters were displayed at VCBC, and paper copies of the survey were available to pick up or to fill out on-site.Completed hard copies of the survey were dropped into a locked box and picked up weekly by the lead researcher.Respondents were eligible to participate if they self-identified as VCBC members, used CTP, accessed The Box, and were able to complete the survey in English.Given the VCBC membership application process, which we describe above, we did not have to screen potential respondents for age requirements (19 years and older in BC) and health requirements.We recorded consent at the beginning survey and then asked respondents to answer mandatory questions to confirm eligibility.The rest of the survey questions were not mandatory.Respondents could opt to skip a question and continue with the survey.They also had the option of entering a draw for a $25 cash prize or a $25 VCBC gift card at the end of the survey.
The survey was open for responses between January and March 2022 and was completed by 104 respondents (n = 41 hard copies, n = 63 online).During this period, VCBC recorded approximately 2,700 in-person visits per month with the frequency of visits per person ranging from daily to weekly or monthly depending on where members are geographically located (J.Kittel, personal communication, April 4, 2023).It is worth noting that based on available geographical data, which provides an incomplete portrait of members, VCBC estimates that 1,214 members are based in Victoria and are most likely to access The Box (J.Kittel, personal communication, April 4, 2023).Based on this estimate, our sample (n = 104) represented 8.56% of this subgroup of members.Data collected from the hard copies were entered into the online survey platform by a research assistant.A survey was deemed completed if mandatory questions confirming eligibility were answered affirmatively, and the participant proceeded to answer the questions until the end of the survey, at which point it was submitted.The surveys of respondents who skipped some of the nonmandatory questions were not considered incomplete.
Descriptive statistics were generated from the survey data (Thrane, 2022).For Likert scale scores, we opted to use the weighted averages available via the survey platform, meaning that the highest the score on the Likert scale the more weight it was given in the calculation of the average (i.e., each score on the scale did not carry the same weight; Lavallée & Beaumont, 2015).Using the Likert scale findings and the sources of data collected as part of the case study, which we detailed above, we also identified three conceptual avenues that can inform future research and policy-making.This is consistent with our overall objective for this case study which was to think more broadly about the experience of people who smoke CTP and the role of cannabis consumption spaces.

Results
The results section is divided into two parts.The first part describes the sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics of respondents, followed by their cannabis consumption and overall experience accessing The Box.The second part identifies three conceptual avenues that are then carried over into the discussion.

Descriptive Results
Sociodemographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics.58% (n = 60) of respondents were 40 years and older, and 80% identified as cisgender men or women (n = 83; Table 1).While the majority (70%, n = 60) identified as White (European descent), it is worth noting that 13% (n = 13) identified as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit).Of particular importance to this study, 69% (n = 72) of the respondents were living in a multidwelling unit where smoke-free regulations apply.Only 2 (2%) of those respondents were property owners (e.g., condos).The remaining were renters or residents (e.g., assisted living, temporary housing, etc.).Of those living in a house (19%, n = 20), a third were renters, which means that smoke-free regulations most likely applied as well.In total, 6% of respondents were unhoused or temporarily housed.
When asked about their annual income, 44% (n = 44) reported an income of <$20,000, 41% (n = 41) between $20,000 and $39,999, 12% (n = 12) between $40,000 and $59,999, and 15% (n = 15) $60,000 and more.Sources of income varied across the sample, but it is worth highlighting that close to 50% of the sample identified government disability assistance as a main source of income.The average amount respondents spent on cannabis per month was $368.20.61.1% (n = 63) reported that they can "always" or "often" afford their cannabis each month.However, 28% (n = 29) stated that they "always" or "often" had to choose between paying for cannabis and other necessities such as rent or food.For 36% (n = 37) of respondents, this dilemma was less frequent (i.e., "sometimes"), but it was nonetheless something they experienced (see Figure 2).Cannabis Consumption.Table 2 summarizes the information collected about respondents' cannabis consumption including frequency, reason(s), preferred modes of consumption, and amount used.Frequency was reported according to monthly, weekly, and daily consumption.73% (n = 75) of respondents were daily users.Of the daily users, 45% (n = 46) reported consuming cannabis more than four times per day, and 28% (n = 29) between one to four times a day.The majority of respondents who identified as weekly users reported consuming cannabis three to six times a week (16%, n = 16).Only 5% (n = 5) of the sample reported monthly cannabis consumption.When asked to select one or more reasons for consuming cannabis, 80% (n = 83) of respondents selected therapeutic use for an illness or chronic condition, and 77% (n = 80) stated that they used cannabis more specifically for physical and mental wellness.Other reasons included recreational or social use (48%, n = 50) and spirituality or traditional healing (34%, n = 35).We will revisit these answers in the next section.The most to the least preferred mode of consumption included: smoking, ingesting (eating or drinking), and topical application (lotions or bath bombs).Of the modes of smoking, the three most commonly reported were smoking joints without tobacco (63%, n = 65), using a pipe (42%, n = 44), and vaporizing, vaping, and dabbing (34%, n = 35).Given that participants used various modes of consumption, we asked respondents to estimate the amount of cannabis they consumed daily in a text box using the metric of their choice (e.g., grams of flower, number of joints, etc.).The majority of respondents provided quantities in grams (daily range from 0.25 to 7 g) or in the number of joints smoked (daily range from 0.5 to 6 joints).Some respondents stated it was difficult for them to estimate the quantity of cannabis consumed daily or that their daily consumption fluctuated based on their symptoms that day or their ability to purchase cannabis.Others did not report quantity but rather a concentration in mg (e.g., mg of THC), which did not allow us to calculate a daily amount per se.Finally, respondents who consumed edibles in addition to smoking provided quantities of the edible (e.g., two squares of a chocolate bar included on VCBC's menu).
Experience Accessing the Box.We asked respondents how often they accessed The Box before its temporary closure, what equipment they used (if any), how much they smoked during a regular visit, why they smoked in The Box, and how beneficial the space had been to them (see Table 3).In terms of frequency of visits, the sample was split into three groups: (a) monthly visitors (31%, n = 30) ranging from Note.Some columns may not add up to 100% as participants were able to skip questions.
a Gender categories were aggregated to protect the confidentiality of respondents.b Select all that apply questions.one to three visits per month, (b) weekly visitors (47%, n = 45), most of whom accessed The Box two to four times a week, and (c) daily visitors (22%, n = 21) accessing The Box one to two times a day.The equipment most commonly used by respondents included grinders (55%, n = 48), dab rigs (42%, n = 37), and the Volcano Vaporizer (33%, n = 29).Under "other," respondents mentioned rolling trays, rolling paper, ashtrays, and alcohol swabs.The majority of respondents (86%, n = 76) reported smoking an average of 1 to 2 joints per visit.Socializing was a common reason (69%, n = 68) for accessing The Box, followed by feeling safer smoking in The Box (51%, n = 50), learning from others (50% n = 49), enjoying being around others 9  when consuming cannabis (43%, n = 42), helping others (36%, n = 35), sharing cannabis with others (36%, n = 35), and accessing other smoking modalities such as dabbing high-THC concentrate (27%, n = 26).Needing a place to smoke was also an important reason to access The Box.This was true for respondents who did not want to smoke outside (41%, n = 40) and those who could not smoke at home because of second-hand smoke (14%, n = 14) and/or smoking bans (32%, n = 31).Of particular importance to this study, close to 20% of respondents reported accessing The Box because they were concerned about being evicted for smoking indoors or ticketed for smoking outdoors.
The main benefits of The Box were: (a) breaking isolation and building community, (b) learning something new and adjusting cannabis use, and (c) reducing potential harms associated with cannabis.Respondents reported making new friends and connections (67%, n = 66), gaining a sense of belonging  Note.Some columns may not add up to 100% as participants were able to skip questions.
a Select all the apply questions.
and community (63%, n = 62), becoming less isolated (62%, n = 61), learning about community services and activities (46%, n = 45), sharing with someone who could not afford cannabis that day (46%, n = 45) or being offered cannabis by someone who wanted to share (32%, n = 31), and getting help from someone to prepare cannabis (27%, n = 26).They also learned something new while using The Box including new information about cannabis (64%, n = 63), cannabis products (63%, n = 62), equipment (40%, n = 39), and cannabis preparation (28%, n = 27).Interestingly, 41% (n = 40) had adjusted their cannabis use based on what they had learned in The Box.Along the same lines, 37% (n = 36) had been shown how to use cannabis safely, and a third of respondents had switched their smoking modality from smoking to vaporizing.Under "other" respondents reiterated the role of The Box in breaking isolation and building community."The Box is like a village," one respondent wrote.

Conceptual Avenues
Cannabis is Therapeutic, and so is The Box.As pointed out above, the reasons why respondents consumed cannabis varied and were not exclusively therapeutic in a medical sense (i.e., symptom relief).Managing an illness or chronic condition was common but so was physical and mental wellness.Recreational or social use, which privileges enjoyment and pleasure, was also deemed important.
Finally, for a third of our sample, cannabis was used for spiritual or traditional healing purposes as well.The Box offered a place where cannabis could be consumed with all these reasons in mind.
For example, when we asked respondents to use a Likert scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the most important and 1 being the least important) to rank the importance of The Box on their mental health, physical health, social life, and spirituality (Figure 3), they reported the following: Mental health was the single most important contribution of The Box with a weighted average of 6.85.Social life was ranked second at 6.54.Importance to physical health was ranked third with a weighted average of 6.24, followed by spirituality with a weighted average of 5.83.
Considering that smoking was the preferred mode of consumption among our respondents, it makes sense that accessing a place to smoke would be deemed important, especially when options to smoke indoors and outdoors might be limited.However, our findings suggest that The Box was more than "just a place to smoke" for respondents.For example, mental health and social life ranking higher than physical health are indicative of space-specific effects that merit further inquiry.In other words, if the sole purpose of a cannabis consumption space is to smoke cannabis (as a medicine), other dimensions of the consumption experience in that space would likely not come through in the survey.As such, a potential conceptual avenue to explore is why and how having access to a space like The Box generates broader therapeutic effects beyond the therapeutic effects of cannabis per se.This could also help broaden the concept of CTP to include other dimensions of health and well-being, which are well represented in the survey findings.
If not in The Box, then Where.When we asked about the impact of the temporary closure of The Box due to COVID-19 using the same Likert scale design (Figure 4), one respondent used the text box and described it as follows: "It was a loss.A social, medicinal loss."Consistent with the above findings, the social loss was deemed the most important, followed by the medicinal loss.In total, 67% (n = 63) of our sample stated that they had lost contact with other members and friends and 62% (n = 58) reported feeling more isolated.About a third of respondents also reported a lost connection with the VCBC (32%, n = 31).Precisely, 23% (n = 22) experienced a worsening of their mental health due to the closure, while 12% (n = 11) experienced a worsening of their physical health.Because of the closure, 17% (n = 16) reported smoking less, and 7% (n = 7) switched to another mode of delivery (i.e., edibles).Some noted that the closure had made it harder for them to manage symptoms (14%, n = 13).Under "other," respondents mentioned their inability to access an alternative safe space to  smoke cannabis or smoke outside, worsening symptoms for which they use CTP, and lacking access to equipment.
Given that smoking in The Box generated benefits that exceeded those associated with smoking cannabis (as a medicine), that smoking was the primary mode of consumption for respondents, and that smoking posed real challenges (e.g., smoking bans) and risks (e.g., eviction), we see two potential conceptual avenues to explore.First, it is important to untangle the broad concept of "people who use CTP." Studying those who primarily or exclusively smoke CTP as a distinct group would generate a more nuanced understanding of reasons why they smoke, where they can or cannot smoke (and how this impacts them), what role consumption spaces play in their ability to self-medicate but also to experience additional benefits (e.g., mental health, social, spiritual, etc.).This brings us to the second conceptual avenue, the need to rethink consumption spaces for people who smoke CTP as having the potential to generate benefits.Our survey points to individual health and public health benefits that are worth exploring.Conceptually merging all forms of indoor smoking as equally harmful runs the risk of overlooking such benefits.
Feeling (Un)Safe in The Box.We asked respondents to rank how safe they felt in The Box on a Likert scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the safest and 1 being the least safe).The responses yielded a weighted average of 8.75, with 82% (n = 80) of the sample ranking safety between 8 and 10.When asked if they ever felt unsafe in The Box, 44 respondents entered a comment.Fifteen comments detailed two main situations that made them feel unsafe: overcrowding and ventilation in The Box as well as aggressive behaviors and inappropriate comments (e.g., racist and sexist remarks).Rapid intervention from the staff in such situations was noted by respondents who commented about aggressive and inappropriate comments in The Box.We noted two important areas that need further conceptual analysis.
First, we see a need to dive more deeply into the concept of safety.For example, The Box may feel like a "refuge haven" (an expression used by a respondent) because it offers protection from the risks of smoking outdoors (e.g., ticketing) or in indoor spaces where smoking is prohibited (e.g., eviction).However, the same feeling of safety may not apply inside The Box.How we acknowledge these tensions are unclear and it warrants more work to ensure that in the search for safety, VCBC members are not forced into an unsafe space.We see potential opportunities for joint work with scholars who are studying other types of consumption spaces such as supervised injection/inhalation sites or drug consumption rooms.Second, more work is needed to conceptualize safety in the design of cannabis consumption spaces to address concerns related to overcrowding and ventilation.Research conducted on the first regulated safer inhalation site in North America (opened in Lethbridge, Alberta, in 2018 and subsequently closed in 2020) could be helpful because it outlines many design considerations that have not traditionally been included in cannabis consumption spaces literature (Bourque et al., 2019).Furthermore, it provides important evidence on how to design an inhalation space that protects both staff and users.

Discussion
Our findings offer important insights into a unique community-based model of cannabis cultivation, distribution, and consumption and a unique group of people who use CTP, both of which are currently located outside the scope of the Cannabis Act.Much like the original cannabis buyers club on which it was modeled and other cannabis clubs alike, VCBC ensures safe, low-barrier access to affordable, highquality products for people who use cannabis as a medicine.It also serves the complementary function of providing a space for social interaction and community building-which may play a particularly important therapeutic role in the context of this still stigmatized and marginalized medicine.VCBC also provides a concrete solution to the three policy problems described above, all of which remain firmly in place despite cannabis legalization.
First, it addresses a major gap by providing a middle-ground option for people who face numerous structural vulnerabilities and live with chronic illnesses/disabilities whose needs are not met by the government-sanctioned market-a market intended for recreational cannabis consumption.It also provides members, most of whom are renters or precariously housed, access to a space where they can smoke.Second, it provides a low-threshold pathway for people who want to (e.g., self-medicating) or have to (e.g., no access to or support from a physician) use CTP outside the medical system-a system that continues to present many limitations because, as Ng et al. (2022) point out, "pathways for access and use of medical cannabis [in Canada] have largely remained the same" (p.4) since cannabis was legalized.Finally, it provides storefront access to cannabis products for people who use CTP as well as access to education and support.Under the Cannabis Act, storefront access is limited to people who use cannabis for recreational purposes and services such as providing advice for managing health conditions or symptoms are not permitted.
Surveying VCBC members allowed us to identify who uses The Box and why they do so.The majority of our respondents identified as cisgendered White men and reported a yearly income of < $40,000.This is consistent with other Canadian studies conducted with people who use CTP (Belle-Isle et al., 2014;Capler et al., 2017;Costiniuk et al., 2019;Lucas 2012;Walsh et al., 2013).Across these studies, 67%-87% of participants identified as cisgendered men, 81%-93% identified as White, and 48%-89% reported a yearly income of <$40,000.In contrast to previous studies, however, our survey generated higher engagement from people who identified as transgendered, nonbinary, genderqueer, and/or Two-Spirit as well as people who identified as Indigenous.While our study design did not include an in-depth exploration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/ Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Two-Spirit (LGTBQIA2S) + and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) voices and experiences, we see a need for more research to address this gap.
Respondents used The Box because smoking was their preferred (and most effective) mode of delivery and having a place to smoke was important not only to optimize symptom management but also to build meaningful social connections and feel better mentally while seeking refuge from the potential risks of smoking outside (e.g., ticketing) or in places where smoking bans are in effect (e.g., eviction).This is a significant finding for two reasons.One, it is consistent with research dating as far back as the 1990s which found that cannabis clubs worked at the medical-social-mental-spiritual nexus (Feldman & Mandel, 1998;Hathaway & Rossiter, 2007).In other words, the impact of cannabis clubs extends beyond cannabis itself.Second, it makes an original contribution to the existing literature by revealing particular aspects of cannabis legalization that have not been studied to date, namely by conducting a case study of a cannabis club that continues to operate outside the legal framework and exploring the role/importance/contribution of consumption spaces in a context where smoking indoor and outdoor has become more difficult and riskier for people who use CTP.
When asked about the importance and helpfulness of The Box, more specifically, our respondents reported reasons and benefits that are best interpreted by combining public health, harm reduction, and wellness perspectives.Taken together, these perspectives help us understand why consumption spaces matter to people who smoke CTP, and more importantly, it moves the analysis beyond the narrow public health focus of second-hand smoke, which continues to drive policy-making at all levels of government in Canada (Fischer et al., 2020).Based on our findings and the existing literature on community-based models of cannabis cultivation, distribution, and consumption, we see several considerations that should be incorporated into policy-making to engage in a balanced and equity-informed analysis of consumption spaces and cannabis clubs more broadly.Echoing the literature summarized above, we conclude by discussing what we see as the public health, harm reduction, and wellness benefits of allowing indoor consumption spaces for people who use CTP.From a public health perspective, our findings suggest that The Box contributes to reducing exposure to second-hand smoke for nonsmokers by allowing people who need to smoke to gather in one designated space.Furthermore, access to this space is contingent upon a membership system, which includes a verification process (e.g., age and medical condition requirements) that seeks to limit the use of The Box to therapeutic users and adults.The quality of and information about the cannabis products smoked in that space can also contribute to reducing public health risks associated with cannabis use, such as intoxication, contamination, and problematic use.And as our findings indicate, The Box increases access to education, guidance, and equipment resulting in positive changes in behaviors.Overall, this is consistent with the purpose of the Cannabis Act 10 and previous studies (Belackova et al., 2016;Pardal et al., 2022;Parés-Franquero et al., 2019) From a harm reduction perspective, The Box can actively reduce potential harms associated with cannabis by allowing members to exchange information and advice, help each other, access equipment, and use more in less harmful ways in the presence of others.By allowing members to smoke in a designated area, it also reduces potential harms associated with not having a place to smoke, such as poorly managed symptoms and use of unregulated/unknown quality cannabis products that may be more difficult to dose and manage alone (e.g., edibles and oils), both of which were reported in our findings.Our findings also indicate that The Box plays a role in reducing potential social (e.g., eviction) and policy (e.g., ticketing) risks associated with cannabis smoking, which, in turn, generates a sense of safety.As Obradors-Pineda et al. ( 2021) point out in a recent paper on the harm reduction potential of cannabis clubs, "social and legal risks of cannabis use are substantially reduced in a club setting, which also provides a safe environment for consumption along with information on normative amounts of cannabis that can be used daily and monthly" (p.3).This is consistent with our findings.It is also consistent with research by Belackova et al. (2016) on the harm reduction benefits of cannabis clubs in Spain involving focus groups with close to 100 club representatives across all five federations, each serving on average 100 to 250 members.
Finally, from a wellness perspective, our survey confirms that the social and mental (and to some extent spiritual) impact of The Box is considerable.This echoes earlier work on cannabis clubs as well as more recent efforts to adopt a wellness framework to understand why and how people use cannabis.Subrizky (2018) explains that public health and harm reduction perspectives focus on problems, risks, and harms associated with cannabis use to the detriment of pleasure, social connections, relaxation, and so forth.Our findings are consistent with what DeAngelo (2015), founder of Harborside Health Centre, points out in The Cannabis Manifesto: "Neither medical nor recreational fully nor accurately described the way I saw people use cannabis.I suspected that there was a third category but didn't know how to analyze or describe it" (p.66).Wellness, he argues, is the missing perspective that can help us understand the overlapping reasons why people use cannabis and what role consumption spaces play in well-being, not simply symptom management.More research is needed to move past the recreational and medical divide when studying the experience of people who use cannabis to feel better physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually.We hope that our findings can provide some potential avenues for this work, given that wellness is well represented in the data.
Our survey had some limitations, some of which are discussed in the study design section.The scope of the study was narrow, the context was in flux amid a pandemic and ongoing enforcement measures (e.g., website closure, risk of raids, etc.), we relied on a survey as a primary data collection method, the survey questions focused primarily on the experience of using The Box, and the sample was a small proportion (8.56%) of a subgroup of VCBC members.In opting for a convenience sample of members with a common experience of (and need for) using The Box, this may have generated a positive bias.However, critiques offered by respondents reflected an ability to recognize the benefits of The Box while also acknowledging its limits.Furthermore, it is important to recognize that members for whom The Box was the only consumption space available may have responded favorably in the hopes of preserving that space in a time of heightened uncertainty.Finally, we cannot claim that our sample was representative of members nor that our findings are generalizable to all VCBC members -or people who use CTP more broadly.As noted above, our sample was consistent with other Canadian studies conducted with people who use CTP; thus suggesting potential transferability.

Conclusion
Our study adds to the literature on cannabis clubs and raises important issues related to cannabis legalization, the role of community-based models of cultivation, distribution, and consumption, and the impact of accessing (and potentially losing access to) a consumption space such as The Box.Overall, we consider that VCBC and its on-site consumption space offered a useful case study to make "real-time observations" (Watson et al., 2019) about cannabis legalization as it unfolds over time and across jurisdictions.Given that the BC government, which is tasked with enforcing the Cannabis Act and cannabis-related provincial statutes and regulations, has been closing communitybased models of cannabis cultivation, distribution, and consumption, the timing of our findings is important.VCBC is currently the last remaining community-based model in the province, and it faces uphill administrative and legal battles.More equity-informed research is needed to document the experiences of people who access CTP outside the government-run medical program and the government-sanctioned recreational market.With the closure of community-based models cultivation, distribution, and consumption in BC, many have seen their access to CTP decrease and have lost access to community, education, and support, and a storefront experience.An equity-informed approach to policy-making is also needed to understand how laws and regulations, such as laws and regulations prohibiting indoor cannabis consumption spaces, impact people who experience intersecting structural vulnerabilities (e.g., poverty, disability, criminalization, etc.).Our survey serves as a reminder that for people who smoke CTP, accessing a community-based indoor consumption space can be therapeutic.If consumption spaces are to be introduced, as the consultations conducted by the BC government seem to suggest, granting broader community access to these spaces and allowing for safer indoor smoking merit close consideration.

Figure 3 .
Figure 3. Importance of The Box.
Note.Some columns may not add up to 100% as participants were able to skip questions.a Select all the apply questions.

Table 3 .
Experience Accessing The Box.