Pubdate: Fri, 06 Oct 2017
Source: Yukon News (CN YK)
Copyright: 2017 Yukon News
Contact:   http://www.yukon-news.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1125
Author: Ashley Joannou

YUKON PREMIER SAYS LOCAL POT SHOPS WILL BE READY TO GO BY JULY

Territorial government still deciding between private, public, hybrid
models, Silver says

The Yukon's premier says he is confident the territory will have at
least one brick-and-mortar shop selling cannabis when the drug becomes
legal across Canada in July.

"There will be, in the Yukon, your ability to at least go into the
liquor store here in Whitehorse - at the bare minimum," Silver said
Oct. 4 after returning from the first ministers' meeting in Ottawa.

"We believe as we move forward we will have some kind of distribution
ready to go at that time."

At the national meeting, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his
proposal to add an excise tax of $1 per gram of cannabis for sales up
to $10 and a tax of 10 per cent of the total price for cannabis
selling at a higher price point.

Silver said the tax rate "makes sense to me" but he disagrees with the
prime minister's proposal to split the money 50/50 between Ottawa and
the jurisdictions.

"We believe that our expenses are a lot more than the federal
government's expenses," he said, pointing to extra costs for the
Yukon's health and education departments as well as the cost of
distribution.

He insists legalization is not about making money.

"By legitimizing it you're getting it our of the hands of our kids,
because you're getting these illegal trade guys … out of the way."

Silver didn't say how much of the money he thinks the Yukon should be
able to keep. That percentage will be discussed the next time the
country's finance ministers meet, he said.

"We're asking Ottawa, 'What are your expenses? Put your expenses on
the table, we'll put our expenses on the table and we'll take a look
at that.'"

Ottawa's plans for legalized pot would allow adults 18 and over to
possess up to 30 grams of dried cannabis or its equivalent in public
or share up to 30 grams of dried marijuana with other adults.

Provinces and territories have the option to tailor those
rules.

Silver said he think bumping the territory's age of consumption to 19,
to match the liquor laws makes sense "for ease of implementation."

Jurisdictions also get control over their own licensing, distribution
and retail sales rules.

Some have started to roll out their plans. Silver said the territory
hasn't decided what it wants its distribution model to be.

"We're looking at a lot of different (distribution) models … private,
public (or a) hybrid somewhere in between," he said.

He said officials will be looking at results of the public survey on
cannabis legislation.

According to the Yukon Department of Health and Social Services, more
than 3,100 people completed a survey making it the most successful
survey ever undertaken by the government.

Whatever the Yukon's model ends up looking like, the premier said he
expects it to evolve.

"If we go in the direction of a completely public system, the obvious
choice would be to go through our liquor stores. There's a liquor
store in almost every community so the networking is already there,"
he said.

If the territory wanted to go with a model run entirely by
privately-owned stores "we would not be ready" to be up and running by
July, he said.

Silver said he would like to eventually have small local "craft"
producers growing cannabis in the territory, something he compared to
a local micro-brewery.

"We do want to see that craft market. If money is to be made let the
private sector be involved in that craft side of things. You can
reduce the cost, I would imagine, if there's a local product."

Cannabis producers have to register nationally. Silver said right now
there are no Yukoners have signed up to be part of the national registry.

Last month the Association of Yukon Communities raised concerns about
whether the territory's communities will be ready for legalization in
time.

Silver said said he brought the municipalities' concerns to
Ottawa.

"We said, 'Look, as you guys are talking to us about a 50/50 split,
remember, don't just look at our costs, look at the municipalities'
costs as well. This is going to cost a lot to regulate in the
municipalities as well."

Whitehorse mayor Dan Curtis said he's "cautiously optimistic" the city
will be ready for when cannabis is legalized. He expects an increased
workload for the city's bylaw and planning departments when cannabis
is legal and it's "a given" that the city will need more resources.

Depending on how the Yukon's distribution model rolls out, Whitehorse
may have to make changes to its building permits and business licence
rules, for example, he said, and the bylaw department is already
stretched thin.

Curtis said the territorial and federal governments are aware of the
municipalities' concerns and he hopes that translates into some money
for communities.

"I'm not so interested in getting revenue generation from the taxation
brought in, but I am very concerned about the extra services that may
be required from our staff, bylaw and planning."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt