Pubdate: Wed, 24 Jan 2018
Source: Journal-Pioneer, The (CN PI)
Copyright: 2018 Journal-Pioneer
Contact:  http://www.journalpioneer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2789
Author: Terrence McEachern
Page: A2

CONSUMER GROUP PANS P.E.I. POT PLANS

Consumer Choice Center says four retail outlets, three suppliers not
enough

A consumer advocacy group says P.E.I. has not planned enough
recreational marijuana sales outlets to deter people away from buying
the product illegally.

David Clement, North American affairs manager with the Consumer Choice
Center, says if the goal of legalization is keeping black market
marijuana out of the hands of Islanders, P.E.I. will need to have more
outlets and more companies supplying the pot.

"Our concern is having only four stores is not accessible enough,"
said Clement, who works out of Toronto for the organization that's
based in Washington.

In December, the P.E.I. government released details about the plan for
recreational marijuana once it become legal on July 1.

Recreational marijuana will be sold in four government-operated retail
outlets in Charlottetown, Summerside, West Prince and Montague.
Besides the four retail outlets, the province is also allowing
ecommerce sales combined with home delivery.

Clement said that mail order helps with access, but the focus should
be on increasing the number of retail outlets. In terms of how many
retail outlets the province should be rolling out on July 1, Clement
said that number should be determined by consumer market demand.

"I actually don't think that anybody has the answer to that in the
same way that I don't think anybody has the answer to the amount of
coffee shops that should exist on the Island or the amount of tobacco
retailers that should exist on the Island," he said.

"It's largely what the market can bear. I would like to see cannabis
treated in the same way. That's probably the best way to ensure there
is enough access to meet consumer demand - is letting that decision be
made between consumers and the outlets."

On its website, the province suggests that selling in government
outlets aligns with its focus of "getting rid of the illegal market
for cannabis and keeping cannabis out of the hands of children."

As well, the province says the four locations were based on population
density and "will allow the province to gauge sales in different areas
of the province, and plan for future expansion if needed."

Nova Scotia and New Brunswick also plan to sell recreational marijuana
in government-operated outlets.

Clement also called the federal government's 30-gram possession limit
for adults "kind of silly" since there isn't a limit for alcohol.

"Our position is there is no justification for that difference," he
said. Clement is also concerned that the province has entered into
supply agreements with only three companies - Canada's Island Garden
of Charlottetown, OrganiGram of Moncton, N.B., and Canopy Growth
Corporation of Smith Falls, Ont. He likened it to there only being
three brands of beer or wine available in liquor stores.

"I think people would be rightly upset. I think we need to have the
same approach with legal cannabis that we have with alcohol," he said.

"There's still lots left to be answered, but we want to make sure the
process is consumer friendly and consumer focused as we go through the
process of legalization."

The province's department of finance directed inquiries to Andrew
MacMillan, CEO of the P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission. MacMillan
couldn't be reached for comment on Monday.
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MAP posted-by: Matt