Pubdate: Fri, 18 Dec 2015
Source: London Free Press (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 The London Free Press
Contact: http://www.lfpress.com/letters
Website: http://www.lfpress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/243
Author: Jim Bronskill
Page: B3

CANADA: LEGALIZED POT REVENUE TO HELP FIGHT ADDICTION: PM

Ottawa - The modest amount of tax money expected from legalized
marijuana sales should go to addiction and support programs, the prime
minister says.

There's potential for "a bit of revenue" from a revamped pot regime,
but the federal government isn't looking for a financial windfall,
Justin Trudeau said in a wide-ranging roundtable interview this week
with The Canadian Press. "It was never about a moneymaker. It was
always about public health, public safety."

Any cash that flows to public coffers through marijuana taxation
should go towards 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." In Vancouver on
Thursday, Trudeau said he expects different perspectives and solutions
when it comes to implementing the new approach across the country.
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