Pubdate: Fri, 18 Dec 2015
Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.ottawacitizen.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/326
Author: Jim Bronskill
Page: A12

LEGALIZED POT WON'T BE CASH COW, OR TAXED EXCESSIVELY, TRUDEAU
SAYS

There's potential for "a bit of revenue" from legalizing marijuana,
but the federal government isn't looking for a financial windfall, the
prime minister says.

The Liberal plan to legalize pot has always been about public health
and safety, not making money, Justin Trudeau said in a wide-ranging
roundtable interview this week with The Canadian Press.

Any cash that flows to public coffers through marijuana taxation
should go toward addiction treatment, mental health support and
education programs - not general revenues, he said.

The Liberals have promised to legalize, regulate and restrict access
to marijuana to keep it out of the hands of children while denying
criminals the financial profits.

The current system of prohibition does not stop young people from
using marijuana and too many Canadians end up with criminal records
for possessing small amounts of the drug, the Liberals say.

The government plans to remove marijuana consumption and incidental
possession from the Criminal Code, and create new laws to more
severely punish those who provide it to minors or operate a motor
vehicle while under its influence.

Trudeau promises to set up a task force with representatives from the
three levels of government and, with input from experts in public
health, substance abuse and policing, design a new system of marijuana
sales and distribution.

It would include federal and provincial excise taxes. However, Trudeau
cautioned against imposing steep levies designed to discourage its
use.

"The fact is that, if you tax it too much as we saw with cigarettes,
you end up with driving things towards a black market, which will not
keep Canadians safe - particularly young Canadians."
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MAP posted-by: Matt