Pubdate: Mon, 26 Jun 2017
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2017 Canoe Limited Partnership.
Contact: http://www.edmontonsun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.edmontonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/135
Author: James Wood
Page: 10

POT CLOCK IS TICKING AS LEGALIZATION LOOMS

Alberta opposition wrestles with intricacies of legal
marijuana

Alberta's conservative opposition parties are concerned about the
tight time-frame for cannabis legalization.

NDP Finance Minister Joe Ceci said last week that despite major
decisions needing to be made, Alberta will be ready with a regulatory
regime and won't ask Ottawa for an extension to its planned July 1,
2018, date for legal cannabis to be implemented.

However, Wildrose justice critic Angela Pitt said in a recent
interview that Alberta should contemplate joining Manitoba in formally
asking for the legalization date to be pushed back.

"It wouldn't be a bad idea for Alberta to also ask for an extension on
the deadline so we can get it right" said Pitt, the Opposition justice
critic.

Ottawa has rejected the notion of extending the timeline for what was
a Liberal campaign promise.

Alberta's NDP government has launched consultations on legal cannabis,
looking at issues such as the legal age for consumption and where the
product should be sold. The province must also institute some sort of
taxation regime for marijuana.

Opposition parties are themselves grappling with legal
cannabis.

The Progressive Conservative caucus says it is still developing its
position on what it called an "intricate topic."

But at a recent local party fundraising event, PC Leader Jason Kenney
warned that the provincial government must be "very deliberate and
careful about the regulatory regime it adopts."

He told reporters he would favour decriminalization rather than
legalization of cannabis, but recognizes that legal marijuana is coming.

"I just think we need to ensure a strong provincial regulatory
framework that ensures we don't end up increasing the availability of
marijuana to minors," he said.

Pitt said she believes the NDP is properly consulting on the issue,
but Wildrose is doing its own consultations around marijuana as it
prepares its policy response.

The party hasn't settled on the suitable age for legal cannabis
consumption, with Pitt acknowledging there is significant debate
around the issue. One position the party has determined however is
that marijuana sales should be left to the private sector.

"We want to see it heavily regulated but we want to see the system
similar to how our liquor stores are run," said Pitt, referring to
standardized training and centralized distribution centres.

The Airdrie MLA said however that liquor stores themselves should not
sell recreational marijuana, with the party instead leaning toward
stand-alone dispensaries for the product.

Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark said he also favours retail operations
dedicated solely to cannabis.

He also believes the legal age for consumption should be 21. "Keeping
it out of the hands of older teenagers is wise," he said.

Liberal Leader David Khan however said the minimum age for
recreational cannabis use should be 18.

"If it's set higher, it will simply feed the black market."
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MAP posted-by: Matt