BC Cannabis Inc – Dr. Michelle Corfield

Dr.Michelle Corfield is from the Ucluelet Nation. She has many different businesses but is most passionate about her BC Cannabis Inc. business. The business is owned by herself and her husband.

They are ‘growers.’ Michelle has been on this journey since about 2019. And then the pandemic hit!  And that sunk everything for a couple of years which proved to be one of their biggest challenges.

Michelle’s journey started when she was six years old selling lemonade at the end of the driveway. She’s owned many businesses over the years and eventually started her own consulting business and then got her Master’s degree in conflict analysis and management. She finished with a Doctorate in management.

At BC Cannabis Inc, they first created a line of CBD which has helped them understand the market. It was a 2-year process that enabled them to use Indigenous medicine with CBD and were able to help people come off opiates. The ability to use natural medicines is why she’s become so passionate. What brings her joy is being able to help people get off pills, prescriptions, and alcohol. Traditionally and historically, Cannabis was part of the medicine that people used, and we need to bring that back. This is about giving back to our people. We get to help people and take that knowledge that has been passed down from generation, from our grannies, and use those medicines in the products we create. Michelle is proud to say that her CBD products are in over 300 stores across British Columbia.

The next stage of BC Cannabis Inc. is becoming processors.  They are in the last stages of getting their building permit for their processing facility. They will be certified at the highest standards which means they will be able to export it to Europe or other international countries.

Michelle says that the future of their business is going to be explosive.  They are going to be the only 100% privately owned processing facility in the country.  They will be able to help Indigenous Nations get into the cannabis business. They want to create a space where our Nations start seeing returns on their revenue. She says this is ‘Indigenous Economy.”

Michelle likes to be self-employed because her mind is always going, and she likes to drive her own schedule. Her business best practices are to work hard and be honest. For her, the worst thing about being self-employed is not knowing when or if you will get paid. Every day is a mystery. She says it may be 5 to 6 years till you see some kind of return.

Michelle’s advice if you’re starting a business or struggling with one is to not be afraid to ask for help. Don’t be ashamed to ask. She says ‘If you say you’re going to do it, show up and do it!