Pubdate: Sat, 18 Jun 2016
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Robert Benzie
Page: A8

QUEEN'S PARK PREPPING FOR LEGAL POT

Province starts studying distribution details, as well as how sales
would work

The Ontario government is quietly gearing up for legalized marijuana
sales, the Star has learned.

With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau set to allow recreational cannabis
use as early as next year, Queen's Park has begun work on how
distribution and retailing will eventually be handled.

Finance Minister Charles Sousa says a working group has been
created.

According to Sousa, the group is comprised of bureaucrats from his
department, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Attorney
General.

"We're working with the feds. With their commitment to legalize,
regulate and restrict access to marijuana, we are going to work with
them," he said in an interview.

"We're guided by their commitment, but at the same time we're having
an across-ministry working group. We've got senior officials involved.
We've begun some research and background (work) already in terms of
what Ontario's approach should be," Sousa said.

"But it's complex. There's different viewpoints. There's different
inputs from several ministries. We're at it. We're close. But I don't
want to jump the gun on any of this stuff . . . because I want us to
take a steady approach as to what's ultimately going to take place."

Echoing Premier Kathleen Wynne, who advocates for marijuana sales to
be restricted to provincially owned LCBO stores, Sousa said he wanted
"to send out the signal" that the era of storefront weed dispensaries
is soon coming to an end.

"I, at least, don't see that being the distribution mechanism. It's
going to have to be controlled," the treasurer warned.

There are more than 100 illegal dispensaries operating in Toronto,
with more popping up weekly despite a recent police crackdown.

"Marijuana possession and trafficking, it's illegal. Medical users are
authorized, but under federal law all marijuana storefront
dispensaries are illegal, too," Sousa said.

Medicinal marijuana is only legally available with a prescription from
a medical doctor and supplied by one of 31 federally licensed
producers who must deliver the drug via registered mail.

Like Wynne, Sousa does not believe in free-for-all weed
retailing.

"Frankly, we've got a lot to draw on. We've got a lot of experience
already when it comes to regulating alcohol, regulating tobacco (and)
regulating gaming. I have all these agencies reporting up to me right
now relative to this. That is helpful as we proceed in this
discussion," the finance minister said.

"It is early and it's not really clear yet how it will unfold and what
options we'll use. There's a lot of options that are being made
available, that are being examined, and all of them have
implications," he said.

"In terms of speculating where it's going to be distributed or the
impact fiscally, my concern right now is ensuring that a framework is
in place (and) the ministries are engaged." Genevieve Tomney, a
spokeswoman for the LCBO, said the 650outlet agency is closely
monitoring developments at Queen's Park and in Ottawa.

"Should decriminalization of recreational marijuana occur at the
federal level, LCBO would take direction from the provincial
government as to any role it may have in retailing cannabis," Tomney
said.

"It is premature to speculate as to what that role may be, but we are
paying close attention to the process as it unfolds and reviewing
publicly available information that may help us if given this added
responsibility," she said.

Warren (Smokey) Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service
Employees Union that represents LCBO workers, has said
government-owned liquor stores are the safest places to sell marijuana.

Thomas has noted the LCBO's secure warehouses and well-trained staff
are best equipped to keep legalized weed out of the hands of underage
Ontarians.

Former Toronto police chief Bill Blair, now the Liberal MP for
Scarborough Southwest, is currently working on updating Canada's
cannabis laws. Blair has praised the licensed producers and warned of
the dangers of the profiteering storefront drug dealers.

Blair has also expressed support for marijuana retailing to be limited
to the LCBO.

In January, he noted that it is "very difficult" for a youth to buy
booze in Ontario.

"You're going to come up against a government employee who's got
regulations to enforce and is going to ask for identification and if a
person's underage they're not going to be able to buy that," said Blair.

"And that's a far better way to regulate access (to marijuana) for
kids than leaving it up to some criminal in a stairwell. Frankly, in
most urban centres across this country, it is far easier for a kid, an
underage youth, to acquire marijuana than it is to acquire alcohol."

Proponents of continued sales at dispensaries have argued they are
merely providing medicine to their customers.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt