Privacy Policy

Privacy Statement

The Province is committed to protecting your privacy.  Collection, use, disclosure and retention of information must comply with provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Information Management Act. Collected personal information will only be used by those authorized to fulfill the purpose for which it was originally collected or for a use consistent with that purpose. We do not disclose information to other public bodies or individuals except as authorized by law. We keep the information only for the length of time necessary to fulfill the purpose(s) for which it was collected.

For further information about the collection and use of your personal information, please contact the Privacy Officer at the Liquor Distribution Branch, 3383 Gilmore Way, Burnaby BC, V5G 4S1 or call 604-252-7461.

BC Cannabis Stores Website

The Liquor Distribution Branch (“LDB”) recognizes the privacy concerns of visitors to this Website and therefore advises visitors that the Internet is not a completely secure medium.

When you visit the Website, your Date of Birth (“DOB”) will be used to ensure you meet the age (19+) requirements. Your DOB is being collected pursuant to section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information Protection of Privacy Act but will not be stored in LDB systems. 

When you browse the BC Cannabis Stores’ site (the “Website”), the server automatically collects a limited amount of information sent by your web browser to facilitate the operation and security of the Website.  

We collect the following standard types of information:

  • Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of the computers and mobile devices being used to access the Website;
  • Operating system names and types and versions of browsers used to access the Website;
  • Internet Service Provider (ISP) used by visitors to the Website;
  • Dates and times users access the Website;
  • Pages visited; and
  • Names and sizes of files requested.

In regards to the Contact Us page, by submitting your email address on the feedback form, you consent to the LDB collecting your personal information and responding to you using the email address you provided.

Product Purchase and Delivery

When you place an order on the Website the LDB will collect your personal information (i.e. contact details and order information) in order to process your non-medical cannabis order, to send you updates on your order via email and to evaluate our e-commerce platform. The LDB may also use your email address to contact you about recalls, customer surveys and future opportunities to receive promotional materials. This information is being collected pursuant to section 26(c) and 26(e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Transactions are the Website are processed Shopify Inc. and fulfilled by the LDB. When you place an order, Shopify will collect certain of your personal information to facilitate the transaction. Information such as your name, address and email address are stored by Shopify outside of Canada. Shopify does not store your payment information. If you create a user account, Shopify may store additional information, such as your transaction history. More information on Shopify’s privacy and security policies can be found on Shopify’s website, which is updated from time to time.

At delivery, you may be asked to present valid government photo identification to confirm that you are of legal age. If picking up from a delivery depot, you will also be asked to verify that you are someone who is authorized to pick up the package. When requested, identification is viewed, but not recorded. The name and signature of the person accepting the package will be recorded as confirmation that the delivery has been received.

Cannabis E- Newsletters

Your Date of Birth (“DOB”) will be used to ensure you meet the age (19+) requirements to sign up for our newsletter. Your DOB is being collected pursuant to section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act but will not be stored in LDB systems.

The LDB is collecting your contact information (such as your name and email address) for us to send you electronic communications about new product releases, valuable offers, and special promotions at BC Cannabis Stores. In addition, we may use standard Internet technology in our e-news email campaigns to verify whether you have opened our emails or clicked on the links featured in our emails. The information we obtain in this manner enables us to customize the messages we send to you and to measure the overall effectiveness of our email campaigns, programming, or other activities. This information is being collected pursuant to section 26(e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Customer Care Centre

When you contact our Customer Care Centre with a comment, question or complaint we may record your information in order to respond to you and assist with your request, including details of your enquiry, your name, and your contact details (such as your mailing address, phone number or email address).This information is being collected pursuant to section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

By emailing the Customer Care Centre or by submitting your email address on any of the customer care forms, you consent to the LDB collecting your personal information and responding to you using the email address you provided.

Call Recordings

We may monitor and/or record telephone discussions when you call our Customer Care Centre, to evaluate customer service, for training purposes, and to respond to your request for assistance. This information is being collected pursuant to section 26(c) and (e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Use of Cookies and Website Data

The Website is designed with a cookie banner that allows you to manage your personal preferences.  For more information about how Shopify uses cookies please visit https://www.shopify.com/ca/legal/cookies.

The LDB uses cookies and server log data to analyze performance of the Website, for statistical purposes, to enhance operational decision-making and enable the LDB to continually improve your customer experience.

When you visit the Website, a small data file called a cookie is sent to your computer and/or mobile device to save and retrieve information about your visit to the Website. Cookies are stored in your internet browser and help make using the Website more convenient by remembering your preferences and past activities. Cookies enable web analytics services to recognize your browser or device, helping to identify if you’ve visited before, what you’ve previously viewed or clicked on, and how you discovered the Website. The information is anonymous and used solely for statistical purposes, helping us analyze user activity patterns and enhance the customer experience.

The Website may use either or both types of cookies: persistent and session. Persistent cookies are stored on your computer or mobile device when you visit the Website, while session cookies expire when you close your browser. Session cookies facilitate your use and navigation of our websites, while persistent cookies identify your browser and IP address, but do not collect personal information.  This information is being collected pursuant to sections 26(c) and (e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Users may also control cookies from the Website by modifying your browser’s settings.  Some browsers can be set to accept all cookies, reject all cookies or notify you when you receive cookies.  If you choose to modify your browser’s settings, some pages of the Website may not function properly. Be sure to consult your browser’s Help menu for instructions.

Links to other websites

Regarding links provided by this Website to other websites, the LDB is not responsible for privacy practices of these other websites. Please check the privacy policy of each website which you visit as they may be different from the LDB’s privacy policies.

MY LDB Account Privacy Notification 

The LDB is collecting your personal information to manage your user identity and access permissions for LDB applications. This information is being collected pursuant to section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Please note that, should you choose to use a social account to sign in to your My LDB Account, your interactions with these features are governed by the privacy policy of that social site and their interfaces may allow that site to connect your site visit to your personally identifiable information.  By using a social account to sign on, you are consenting to your personal information (i.e. first name, last name and email address) being transferred from the social site to LDB’s IAM (Identity and Access Management) application form on your browser, and, when you submit the application form, the LDB collecting this personal information for the purposes of establishing your My LDB Account.  Please note that while the social media site states that the LDB will receive your public profile, LDB has configured the settings to ensure that the only personal information transferred from the social media site to LDB’s IAM application form on your browser and potentially collected by the LDB is your first name, last name, and email address.  The LDB will not be viewing or accessing the public profile of your social account. You are also consenting to the disclosure of a log record to the social media site located outside of Canada, containing a code of numbers and letters associated with your social media account username for the purposes of authenticating you.  By agreeing to these terms, your consent is effective from the date of this application onward, or until termination of your My LDB Account.

BC Cannabis Stores Customers

The LDB is committed to protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of the personal information you provide during transactions in store and while using the Website.

Only Collect What's Necessary

  • The personal information you provide will only be used to fulfill the purpose for which it was originally collected or for a use that is directly related to that purpose.
  • The LDB only collects the personal information that is necessary for the service(s) you are seeking from the Website.
  • A limited amount of your personal information is collected: when you place an order online; when you contact our Customer Care Centre for assistance, when you use your debit or credit card to pay for your purchase and when you return product.

Your Personal Information is Safeguarded

  • Information is kept only as long as necessary for the purpose it was collected and for any legal requirements, after which it is destroyed in a timely and secure manner.
  • Access is restricted to authorized personnel who need the information to perform their duties.
  • LDB work processes ensure that personal information is not disclosed to unauthorized parties.
  • Electronic data in LDB computer systems is protected against unauthorized access and the data is transmitted over secured networks.

 Share Information with Others Only When Authorized

 - November 15, 2024