Pubdate: Thu, 21 Apr 2016 Source: Daily Courier, The (CN BC) Page: A8 Copyright: 2016 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers Contact: http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/531 IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT HARD TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA It seemed appropriate the federal Liberal government chose 4-20 - pot smokers' favourite day - to announce a timeline to live up to its campaign promise to legalize marijuana. At a United Nations conference on drug policy, Health Minister Jane Philpott declared legislation to legalize marijuana will come in 2017. In another bit of fortunate timing, her announcement came just a day after the C.D. Howe Institute issued some sound advice on how to move forward with legalization. While there are many aspects and details to consider in drafting legislation, the Liberals aren't exactly inventing something new here. They can learn a lot from the U.S. states that have already legalized marijuana - borrowing legislation and regulations that have worked well and avoiding some of the pitfalls Colorado and Washington, in particular, have encountered. The C.D. Howe and many other groups have also done considerable research into the issue that's available. And in January, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assigned MP and former Toronto police chief Bill Blair to look into the issue. The CD Howe report says the federal government should retain power over marijuana production while the provinces should be in charge of distribution. Both should have taxation powers, the report says. The federal government's priority should be "protection of public health and elimination of existing and future black markets," author Anindya Sen wrote. That means while taxing marijuana should bring about a revenue boom for both levels of government - $5 billion, one study has estimated - the governments mustn't raise taxes so high that it drives people to the black market. The report also delves into some detail on how to sell marijuana, expressing a preference for the so-called Colorado model, which has standalone, privately owned, boutique-style stores. Producers should not be allowed to have their own retail stores, at least to start with, adds the report. The recommendations are similar to Washington's system, which limits how many retail stores one business can own. Ottawa already has standards for medicinal marijuana growers, so it's not a huge leap to create a set of regulations for the recreational growers. The report also calls for impaired driving laws to be updated, and again says we can turn to Washington and Colorado for advice. "Currently, drivers in Colorado and Washington state are considered to be legally impaired from marijuana consumption if five or more nanograms of THC are found in their blood. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence on the exact levels of THC that can dangerously impair driving skills." The impending legalization has also caused many people to ask whether people convicted of simple possession charges in the past can have their records wiped clean. The institute says they should: "The federal government should consider pardoning individuals who have been convicted for illegal possession but who have otherwise not been convicted for charged for any other Criminal Code offence." The likelihood that marijuana distribution will be a provincial responsibility means the B.C. government needs to get going on creating a set of rules and a distribution regime. The opposition is already on it - if Premier Christy Clark's government would like to seek a little advice. In February, Leader John Horgan announced he was sending MLAs Mike Farnworth and Carole James to Washington to learn how its system works. The B.C. government has a year to get ready. Time to get going. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D