Pubdate: Thu, 24 Mar 2016
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2016 Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact: http://www.edmontonsun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.edmontonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: Claire Theobald
Page: 6

LIQUOR STORE OWNERS PREP FOR POT

Association polling members on cannabis sales

While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to legalize
recreational marijuana use, changes to legislation could take time.
But the Alberta Liquor Store Association wants to be ready.

"We wanted to poll our members to see how they feel about the
possibility of liquor stores selling a controlled substance like
marijuana so that when the provincial government (begins discussions)
here in Alberta, we can be at the table," said Ivonne Martinez,
president of the Alberta Liquor Store Association.

While Alberta's finance minister said his comments earlier this month
about selling marijuana in liquor stores were in jest, Martinez said
the majority of Alberta liquor store owners she has talked to see it
as viable.

"Some actually see the logic in it. Our stores are already selling a
controlled substance in a responsible way," Martinez said.

Some store owners have raised concerns about how law enforcement will
address issues such as driving while high and what stance Alberta
Health Services will take in addressing any negative health impacts
from recreational marijuana use.

"We would want to hear a full picture before putting forward
anything," Martinez said.

While in provinces such as Ontario, regulation changes could be fairly
easy because liquor stores are all under government control, Alberta's
liquor stores are privatized.

Martinez said the poll - expected to be completed by the end of April
- - will help the Alberta Liquor Store Association provide a united
voice to protect the interests of liquor store owners when policies
are eventually written.

"You have 1,400 different independently owned liquor stores, so the
discussion would have to be with all of them," Martinez said.

Martinez hopes his association can expedite the process of creating
well-rounded policies in Alberta whenever the government is ready to
implement them.
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MAP posted-by: Matt