Premier Rachel Notley won't say which way her NDP government is leaning when it comes to sales of legal cannabis, but she insists the province is carefully weighing the merits of public- and private-sector options.

Under its policy framework unveiled last week, the NDP will allow recreational marijuana to be sold only in standalone stores once cannabis is legalized next year, but the government is still weighing whether to set up a system of government owned and operated stores, or leave retail to the private sector.

[continues 274 words]

The health implications of legalized cannabis and ways to combat Canada's rising opioid problem are on the agenda when health ministers meet this week in the Alberta capital.

Provincial and territorial ministers will hold discussions today and will get an update on the marijuana file from federal counterpart Ginette Petipas Taylor on Friday.

Manitoba Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen says he wants to know more about the impacts on health and on the health system.

"Many studies show that people are affected by the consumption of marijuana up until the age of 25 because there can be long-term effects if the brain is still developing up until that age," said Goertzen.

[continues 308 words]

In more than 35 years as an emergency room physician, Dan Morhaim has learned a lot about opioids.

The doctor, Maryland state legislator and faculty member at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health said he has had the opportunity to talk to thousands of drug users while treating patients.

"It's given me tremendous insight into what goes on and that's informed a lot of the policies that I've promoted," he said.

The physician was in Calgary on Wednesday to speak about that approach as part of a University of Calgary School of Public Policy and O'Brien Institute of Public Health event.

[continues 396 words]

CALGARY - Premier Rachel Notley won't say which way her NDP government is leaning when it comes to sales of legal cannabis, but she insists the province is carefully weighing the merits of both the public and private-sector options.

Under its policy framework unveiled last week, the NDP will allow recreational marijuanato be sold only in stand-alone stores once it is legalized next year, but the government is still weighing whether to set up a system of government owned and operated stores, or leave retail to the private sector.

[continues 361 words]

An overwhelming number of municipal candidates from across Alberta surveyed by anti-smoking advocate group Action on Smoking and Health support municipal restrictions on the use of cannabis in public places.

In total, 159 candidates from 20 major Alberta municipalities were asked nine questions in the survey on cannabis and tobacco between Oct. 2 and Oct. 11.

Of those candidates, 133 respondents, or 84 per cent, said they support restrictions.

Almost as many, 121 respondents or 76 per cent, said they support municipal licensing of cannabis retail sales, and 129 candidates also supported the use of municipal zoning to control location of cannabis retail stores.

[continues 107 words]

As the due date for the Legal Weed Scourge draws to a close, it has been interesting to watch the federal and provincial governments staking their claims as to the millions of dollars to be made. In my mind's eye, I see them all standing with eager anticipation at the starting gate to see who will be the first to get hold of the riches.

I know there is a bit of cynicism involved here, but I see such a blatant tax grab in the works despite the huge efforts to hide their greed. The only ones missing out are the municipalities who will have to foot the bills for policing and licencing.

[continues 526 words]

Trust us, the grass is greener on the other side of state-run business.

Anyone who ever had to line up outside one of a handful of Alberta liquor Control Board retail outlets back in the day knows how brutal it was buying something as simple as a case of beer or bottle of wine. It was enough to drive you to drink. Or how about the stress-elevating experience of a visit to the old department of motor vehicles. Talk about road rage. Privatization has made life so much easier in those two areas, not to mention the jobs created through competition and better, varied pricing for consumers in the case of booze - tax portion aside, of course.

[continues 296 words]

The advocacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving wants Alberta to sell marijuana through government-run stores - at least in the short term - to ensure public safety before profit.

Andrew Murie, the CEO of MADD, points to marijuana stores in the United States that slash prices to mark the annual April 20 counter-culture celebration of public cannabis consumption.

"There are a lot of people that want to make a lot of money on this legalization, a lot of entrepreneurs, and they're not interested in public safety," Murie said in an interview Thursday.

[continues 503 words]

The Canadian Medical Association has said that the age for marijuana should be 25 and no less than 21.

What does our illustrious government do?

They set the age at 18. How did they arrive at this? Or, was it pulled out of thin air like so many of their harebrained policies? At the same time, Energy East is cancelled and not a peep.

The slow death spiral for this country into the economic abyss continues. I hope we wake up before it's too late.

Ken Banner, Edmonton

[end]

A dozen medical pot producers plan to start a chain of Alberta marijuana stores if the provincial government allows private companies to sell recreational weed next year.

The Canadian Cannabis Co-Op hopes to get in on the ground floor of what's expected to be a billion dollar Alberta industry when the federal government legalizes marijuana consumption July 1, 2018.

"We will build out a retail channel in Alberta and any other province that is looking at including private sector retail and distribution in their model," Darren Karasiuk, chair of the co-op working group, said Thursday.

[continues 387 words]

Alberta Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley has announced the first details of Alberta's plans for selling marijuana once the product is legalized across the nation in July.

This makes Alberta the third province, after Ontario and New Brunswick, to show its hand.

Ganley announced enough details to satisfy those who want to know Alberta's broader approach to legalization, while keeping more contentious details, like who gets to sell it, for a later date.

Although Alberta Health Services recommended making the legal age 21 for pot consumption and raising the alcohol and tobacco ages from 18 to match it, Alberta's government is sensibly and simply making 18 the legal age for weed.

[continues 460 words]

The Trudeau government's notice that recreational use of marijuana will be legal on July 1, 2018, has created a number of challenges for provincial politicians. Legalizing the substance is the easy part. More difficult is deciding how the drug will be sold to customers, where retail outlets will be located, where cannabis can be smoked and how police will be able to detect those who have consumed too much pot.

The NDP government provided a glimpse this week of what legalized pot might mean for Albertans, but it's waiting for the public to weigh in before it introduces legislation this fall.

[continues 334 words]

Alberta condo dwellers are in for a terrible ride with the NDP marijuana legislation plan. Most condos are high-density buildings where small units are crammed together and where the attitudes and behaviours of others directly affect their neighbours.

We already hear of people smoking "whatever" on balconies or in units where smoke drifts next door negatively affecting the health, property values and quality of life of others. Now our federal government is giving people, who might not even be owners, permission to carry on.

[continues 122 words]

Alberta, like all provinces, is scrambling to come up with a plan to adapt to the federal government's looming legalization of marijuana.

Given the rush to meet Ottawa's quickly approaching July 1 deadline, the first proposed rules laid out by Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley are generally promising in their application of common sense to what is a complicated, costly and game-changing file off-loaded onto provinces by the Trudeau Liberals.

The federal ground rules are: the minimum age can't be below 18 and you can't possess in public more than 30 grams; most everything else is for provinces to decide.

[continues 346 words]

Advocates says province would be spared millions in cost of building retail outlets

A dozen cannabis producers from across Canada want to launch a cooperative in Alberta, where they would sell the drug online and in street-level stores - and they're promising extra revenues for the government.

A day after the province reopened public consultations on a new cannabis market - leaving its options open on whether to pursue privately or publicly run stores - the Canadian Cannabis Co-op said its proposed retail model poses no risks or costs to taxpayers.

[continues 534 words]

Alberta Federation of Labour says public system creates better jobs, more revenue

The Alberta Federation of Labour is calling for the NDP government to set up a system of government-owned and operated cannabis stores in the province when recreational marijuana becomes legal next year.

With Alberta's policy framework for legal cannabis released earlier this month, Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley said the province will only allow stand-alone stores to sell legal weed but it is still weighing whether to set up government-owned facilities or leave retail to the private sector.

[continues 528 words]

CALGARY The Alberta Federation of Labour is calling for the NDP government to set up a system of government-owned and operated cannabis stores in the province when recreational marijuana becomes legal next year.

With Alberta's policy framework for legal cannabis released earlier this month, Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley said the province will only allow stand-alone stores to sell legal weed but it is still weighing whether to set up government-owned facilities or leave retail to the private sector.

[continues 505 words]

Calgary police Chief Roger Chaffin said a proposed framework released by the province on legalized marijuana this week is "a start" as police examine their next steps to prepare for recreational cannabis to be legalized July 1.

"On its first blush, there's not a lot of detail in that yet, but at least the framework sets up at least an idea of where the province wants to go around age limits, around consumption levels, growing the plant, so there's lots of areas there at least we can start to go to work on," Chaffin said Friday.

[continues 293 words]

Calgary police chief roger chaffin said a proposed framework released by the province on legalized marijuana this week is "a start" as police examine their next steps to prepare for recreational cannabis to be legalized July 1.

"On its first blush, there's not a lot of detail in that yet, but at least the framework sets up at least an idea of where the province wants to go around age limits, around consumption levels, growing the plant, so there's lots of areas there at least we can start to go to work on," chaffin said Friday.

[continues 270 words]

Albertans get first look at pot plan

Albertans will be able to toke up in public when marijuana is legalized across Canada next summer, as long as they're not around kids.

The province released its Draft Cannabis Framework on Wednesday morning, confirming people will be allowed to smoke in public but not in playgrounds, spray parks, zoos, hospitals, school grounds or other places frequented by children.

By contrast, Ontario announced last month it will not allow public consumption when the drug is legalized for recreational use on July 1, 2018.

[continues 236 words]