Pubdate: Thu, 03 Dec 2015
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Laura Kane
Page: A8

IF MARIJUANA IS LEGALIZED, SELL IT IN LIQUOR STORES, B.C. GROUPS SAY

Pot Should Be Sold in 'Most Socially Responsible Way Possible'

British Columbians may eventually be able to buy recreational 
marijuana along with their beer in local liquor stores, if two groups 
have their way.

The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union and the B.C. Private 
Liquor Store Association have joined forces to call for legalized pot 
to be sold through the alcohol retail system.

The partnership, called the Responsible Marijuana Retail Alliance of 
B.C., advocates pot be available in liquor stores by Christmas 2016.

The union, which represents workers in nearly 200 public liquor 
stores, has not taken a position on whether it supports Prime 
Minister Justin Trudeau's plan to legalize marijuana, BCGEU president 
Stephanie Smith said.

"But we do believe that when this happens, it ought to be sold in the 
most socially responsible way possible, in an age-controlled 
environment with the strongest track record of checking 
identification," she told a news conference Wednesday.

Smith called legalization an "incredible opportunity" for B.C. 
because it already has an excellent system for distributing and 
selling alcohol.

"Creating a new parallel system for the sale of non-medical marijuana 
will be incredibly costly, time-consuming and would divert money from 
social programs, education and addiction treatment into an additional 
bureaucracy," she said.

Damian Kettlewell of the private liquor association - made up of more 
than 200 private liquor stores in the province - said they envision a 
system that is similar to beer and wine industries.

Producers of all sizes would sell their product to a central 
wholesaler at the liquor distribution branch, which would then 
distribute it to stores.

Kettlewell stressed that the groups want to sell only recreational 
pot, not medical marijuana, so they don't expect their proposal to 
impact existing medical dispensaries.

He also said the federal government should follow in the footsteps of 
American states that have allowed residents to grow small amounts of 
marijuana at home for personal use - similar to home brewing.

"The tax revenue from marijuana could fund a host of programs, from 
addiction recovery, prevention programs aimed at youth, education 
about the dangers of impaired driving, to more general programs like 
health and education," he said.

The details of tax rates and program spending are for the federal and 
provincial governments to decide, he added.

It's not clear yet which level of government would give the go-ahead 
to sell marijuana in liquor stores. Smith said she believes legalized 
marijuana would fall under provincial jurisdiction, similar to 
alcohol. Municipalities also exert control over land use and zoning, 
and Kettlewell said the unions support the right of communities to 
decide against allowing pot to be sold locally.

The provincial Justice Ministry said in a statement that it's too 
early to speculate on the specifics of any future legislation or its 
implementation.

"Marijuana control is a federal responsibility and B.C. will continue 
to monitor and would participate in any consultation the government 
of Canada may conduct around proposed changes," the statement said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom