Pubdate: Sun, 13 Dec 2015
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Page: 10

COULD MAIL ORDER WEED SAVE CANADA POST?

Mail order weed for recreational tokers could end up fulfilling two 
campaign promises - legalizing pot and saving Canada Post.

Tweed president Mark Zekulin believes the feds could act "very 
quickly" once legislation is passed, to simply expand the existing 
delivery-by-mail system for medical buyers.

"It's accessible to every part of the country, it's delivered in a 
safe and secure manner. The first step is simply to expand that 
system," said Zekulin.

Mail order model

Building off existing model, with pot tracked from "seed-to-sale" and 
delivered in child-proof, vacuum-sealed, discrete packaging.

"It allows you to really get out and launch a system across the 
country, but in a rather cautious manner that is building upon what 
exists and what has proven to be successful on the medical side. By 
doing that, it buys you time to gather data, to understand the 
challenges and the successes."

- - Mark Zekulin, Tweed

LCBO model

With a massive infrastructure already in place for booze, some 
believe the liquor control system is best-equipped to handle pot, 
with OPSEU chief Warren Thomas joining a chorus that already includes 
Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger, leading The Toronto Star to quip: 
"LCBO should have a pot monopoly, too."

"The LCBO has a solid track record of responsibly selling alcohol and 
would bring the same service standard to marijuana... including 
minimum age limits, a ban on marketing, and a plan to prevent 
cannabis-impaired driving. If we let industry write the rules, we 
won't make any headway in reducing the social harm from marijuana."

- - Warren "Smokey" Thomas, OPSEU

B.C. model

Ottawa Medical Dispensary owners Shaddy Abboud and Franco Vigile say 
they are "keeping a close eye on legalities" and adopting measures 
similar to the bylaws that govern Vancouver pot shops. Police in B.C. 
generally take a hands-off approach, unless there is a complaint from 
the community, though raids are increasing in frequency. Critics of 
this model say some shops are still fed by the black market, and are 
therefore still feeding organized crime.

"We do not permit people to sell legal or illegal liquor or 
prescription medicine on a street corner and similarly, we cannot 
permit an illegal substance to be sold in a similar manner, 
particularly when people have complained about it. There is no legal 
mechanism in Canada which allows for medicinal marijuana dispensaries 
or compassion clubs to sell or gift to the public."

- - Supt. Mark Fisher, Nanaimo RCMP

Health clinic model

Medical patients and recreational clients would register for a 
membership, and all sales would be tracked per user. Onsite 
counselling and outreach would be available, though even advocates of 
this approach acknowledge the expense would cut into the bottom line, 
which could inflate the price if the product and drive consumers back 
to the black market.

"I'd like to see them be legitimate health clinics - and not just 
'Health and Happiness Centre' - having staff who are not just aware 
of the effects of cannabis, but who are doing community health 
research to see what the impact of the proliferation of cannabis will be."

- - Ryan Levis, Greater Ottawa Health Advocacy Centre

Cannabis Control Board model

Provinces may opt to establish an independent agency responsible 
solely for cannabis.

The product would come only from one of the country's licensed 
producers, with 26 growers currently regulated by Health Canada.

Staff would be trained in a similar manner to the liquor control 
industry, and it remains a possibility clients would have to register 
for a membership in order to purchase.

Colorado model

The government issues licenses to private enterprise, as is the case 
in Colorado, where aggressive marketing (including THC-laced soda, 
chocolate and candy) has led to sky-high profits. The majority of the 
Canadian public already supporting legalization may not be on board 
with handing industry the keys to the Cadillac.

"We've seen out of Colorado the evidence that supports the need to 
move prudently," said Zekulin. "Perhaps that day will come, but I 
would be very surprised if that day was the next step."

Licensed producers undergo rigorous testing, and every bud is tracked.

"The more you distribute among a broader number of people, the harder 
it is to do that, and of course you end up with the NIMBY attitude."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom