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BC Bud is a generic term for several varieties of cannabis grown in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The term has become almost a brand name, especially in California, Oregon and Washington where most of the province's exports end up. The United States Drug Enforcement Agency considers BC production to be a major problem, given the porous US-Canada border, and has launched several major initiatives to cut down on its flow.
However, a high tolerance for cannabis use in BC, awareness of the role of it as a cash export crop, and the rise of the British Columbia Marijuana Party (and the federal Marijuana Party of Canada which got its start in BC), have all tended to make it difficult for Canadian or BC authorities to interfere very effectively.This remains a significant bone of contention between the US and Canada, and is one of many US-Canada border problems driving changes to both nations' policies.
The early history of cannabis production was centered in hippie comunities in the Gulf Islands and Kootenay area, in climate conditions perfect for outdoor growing. The bulk of BC Bud now originates from hydroponic grow-ops in Vancouver, with signifigant amounts added by outdoor growers.
BC has many compasion clubs, head shops and activists challenging the current legal and social views on cannabis.
Perhaps more interesting from a commercial point of view, the fact that many growers in BC informally cooperate to keep quality "high", but are competing fiercely in an illegal business, is of interest to some in the agricultural economics community. It is an example of a region, like Bordeaux, France, whose name is becoming simultaneous abroad with that of an intoxicating export, in this case Bordeaux wine. This is interesting to students of trademarks, agricultural policy, competition, and black markets.
See also: cannabis trade, black markets, trademark
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