Pubdate: Tue, 01 Apr 2014
Source: Winnipeg Sun (CN MB)
Copyright: 2014 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.winnipegsun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.winnipegsun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/503
Author: T.H. Cooper

LEGAL WEED

Marijuana to be legalized in Manitoba; following Colorado
footsteps

In the wake of a court decision that allows medical marijuana users to
continue to grow their own pot, Manitoba will become the first
Canadian jurisdiction to follow in the footsteps of Colorado and
Washington, the Sun has learned.

Policy-makers have been closely watching events in Colorado and the
income the state is harvesting due to the legalization of marijuana.

Manitoba, long known to be a test market for many distributors and
products, will soon be used to test legalization of marijuana in
Canada, sources said.

Colorado legalized the sale of pot and sales have eclipsed $14 million
since Jan. 1, 2014, creating $3.5 million in tax revenue, which is an
attractive result for any government.

Government officials wouldn't confirm the story.

However, an email exchange between bureaucrats obtained by the Sun
under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act reveals
government officials are gleeful at the prospect of taxing "potheads."

"Finally, we'll be able to get some money from those hippy potheads,"
read a part of their conversation.

"Maybe they'll finally actually contribute to society once we get this
through," was the reply. "If nothing else, the girls who go
door-to-door selling cookies will at least be able to find some repeat
customers."

Given the amount of marijuana seized by police operations in Manitoba
and estimates of pot use in this province, it's expected government
revenues produced by this new industry will be in the range of several
million dollars annually. Officials expect economic spinoffs are also
expected to occur, particularly within the local snack industry.

There's no word on when the government will reveal this change, but
sources say it could happen as early as Easter Sunday. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D