Marijuana could become more of an an economic engine in the province, says the B.C. Independent Cannabis Alliance.

That’s part of the message the group — linked to more than 400 independent businesses — will be taking to the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria at the end of the month.

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“The cannabis industry in British Columbia is estimated to be a multibillion-dollar industry,” spokesman Dieter MacPherson said Thursday.

“The Independent Cannabis Alliance wants to preserve the current cannabis economy and believes that the best way to do this is to allow current good actors from the illicit economy to be regulated, taxed and included.”

MacPherson said the right kinds of regulations could sustain thousands of jobs and create economic opportunity.

Jaclynn Pahota from Cannabis Growers of Canada said B.C. already has about 40,000 agricultural workers employed in the cannabis sector.

People involved in the industry want to see a “fair cannabis marketplace” and to have the same responsibilities as other businesses do, she said.

The alliance’s efforts come in advance of the federal government’s promise to bring in legislation next spring to legalize and regulate marijuana.

In the meantime, other levels of government are having to deal with the marijuana dispensaries that are popping up in many communities.

That includes the City of Victoria, which has 38 dispensaries. Changes to the city’s zoning and business-licensing bylaws to accommodate the sale of medical marijuana take effect this month. Councillors have said there could be future provisions allowing on-site consumption of marijuana at facilities that are run by non-profit organizations.

UBCM has also responded to the issue, MacPherson said.

“Two years running now, the UBCM has passed regulations that state that storefront dispensaries are definitely within [local governments’] regulatory jurisdiction, and we expect they’re going to pass, hopefully, a similar motion this year,” he said.

“Not only that, but B.C. municipalities are calling for some of the tax revenue that’s going to be earned, so that they can reinvest in infrastructure.”

MacPherson said the alliance needs to emphasize its economic concerns on a wider scale.

“We are law-abiding citizens, we would like to participate in the legalization, and so we’re going to be working to lobby the provincial government.”

With a provincial election coming up in May 2017, MacPherson said, the alliance “would like to see all three major parties talking about B.C.’s economic interests.”

The alliance believes production and distribution of marijuana are provincial issues, and B.C. should have a major role to play, he said.

“We’re hoping the province steps up and fights for the small guy.”

jwbell@timescolonist.com