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But as legalization looms, Sarah is uncertain whether she’ll make the transition into the regulated market. She’s even contemplating getting out of the industry altogether.

“The stress level is almost making it not worth it for me anymore,” she says. “I’ve actually thought about – sorry I might get emotional here – I’ve thought about saying f— it and trying to do something else. But I’ve invested so much time into it and it’s so important to my family.”

At least a quarter of her current business is direct deliveries to people in her community. Under provincial rules, all her products would have to be shipped to B.C.’s Liquor Distribution Branch, meaning no opportunity for farm-to-customer relationships or online orders.

“I can no longer provide my community with the services I’ve been providing them with,” she says, adding that she’s also worried about restrictions on what she can actually sell. “I can’t make tinctures and edibles that are helping people.”

The federal government says it will open up licence applications for so-called “micro-cultivators” like Sarah after legalization comes into effect. After reviewing guidelines previously released by the government, Sarah says she’s not sure if she can afford to deal with all the red tape.

She’s already in debt after having to relocate her 300 square-foot indoor garden, which is located inside two shipping containers.

There are lots of sharks in the water

Sarah says it’s as if the small producers are “last in line” because the larger producers are already through the gate. “It’s sad because we’re the backbone of how this started. It feels like we’re being held back until everyone gets through.”