Pubdate: Fri, 19 Aug 2016
Source: Northern News (CN ON)
Page: A2
Copyright: 2016 Northern News
Contact: http://www.northernnews.ca/letters
Website: http://www.northernnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2315
Author: Gord Young

MUNICIPALITIES NOT READY FOR MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

Municipalities don't appear to be well prepared for the legalization 
of marijuana, says one North Bay councillor.

Coun. Mark King said he was struck while attending the Association of 
Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in Windsor this week by 
how ill-prepared even the provincial government is for marijuana 
legalization in Canada.

"It's probably the biggest issue that I saw there," said King. "It 
appears that the provincial government really doesn't seem to be 
prepared in any way, shape or form."

King said many conference attendees were talking about the pending 
legalization of marijuana in Canada and the impact on cities and 
towns. That includes a municipal councillor from southern Ontario who 
raised the issue during an AMO panel discussion involving several 
provincial cabinet ministers. King said the question focused on how 
police services will be affected.

"No one has any idea how this is going to work," he said, noting the 
province has indicated it is waiting for Ottawa to pass legislation. 
"They're waiting for the federal government to provide the lead."

The federal government plans to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana 
and has launched a task force to provide advice on how best to move 
forward before legislation is tabled next spring. The government is 
also holding online consultations until the end of the month about 
how the regulatory system should be designed.

The task force is expected to look at a range of issues, including 
age limits, distribution, public safety, taxation, product packaging, 
potency and licensing.

But AMO has also put together its own task force to consider the 
implications and opportunities of pot legalization for cities and towns.

And with potential impacts on policing, public health and social 
services, some municipal officials have suggested cities and towns 
should get a share of revenue related to legalization.

"Municipal governments deliver many of the services that will be 
impacted by the legalization of marijuana," AMO president Gary 
McNamara stated in a release this week. "Policing, licensing, public 
health and local economies will all be affected. We need to work with 
the provincial and federal governments as legalization moves forward."

That notion was supported by a presentation during the AMO conference 
by Ashley Rea Kilroy, executive director of marijuana policy for the 
city and county of Denver.

Kilroy discussed Denver's experience with the legalization of 
marijuana, telling delegates that it required significant 
co-ordination between public services.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom