Justice minister set to unveil policy framework for legalized marijuana Alberta companies are eagerly waiting to see whether they can do business under the provincial government's plan for legal marijuana. On Wednesday, Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley will unveil the NDP government's policy framework for cannabis once the Trudeau government legalizes recreational marijuana on July 1, 2018. Among the areas expected to be addressed by the government are the legal age for consumption, pricing and how cannabis will be distributed and sold in the province. [continues 531 words]
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, neurosurgeon and chief medical correspondent for CNN is reported to have said, "Every 19 minutes somebody dies of a prescription drug overdose. It doesn't happen with marijuana." In the past Gupta was against legalising medical marijuana in the U.S. but now he is in favour of it. He sees some benefit for certain types of illnesses. The use of medical marijuana (medical cannabis) as a medicine has not been rigorously tested due to several restrictions. But there is some evidence to suggest cannabis can reduce nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, improve appetite in people with HIV/AIDS, and reduce chronic pain and muscle spasm. [continues 417 words]
Stafford Drive bridge area being fenced off CP Rail is cutting off access to one of the most active illicit injection sites in the city in the coming months, which could drive up drug use in other areas of the city. In a report to Lethbridge Police Commission on Wednesday, ARCHES Executive Director Stacey Bourque told the commission when CP Rail cuts access to the area under Stafford Bridge, many drug users will lose access to an area where ARCHES cleans thousands of used needles every month. [continues 540 words]
Blueprint for recreational marijuana sales shares key similarities with proposals in Ontario and New Brunswick, but also shows how varied the provincial approaches will be upon legalization, Kelly Cryderman reports from Calgary Alberta has joined in the rush by provinces to adapt to Canada's rapidly approaching marijuana legalization, with a draft plan that sets the minimum age at 18 and allows for public consumption in some areas. But the province is undecided on whether storefront sales will be managed by government monopoly or private interests. [continues 735 words]
Public asked to pipe up on marijuana rules The NDP government is weighing whether to set up government-run stores to sell marijuana in Alberta or leave the market to private retailers once recreational cannabis is legalized next year. Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley unveiled the government's proposed framework for legal weed Wednesday, with the province setting 18 as the legal age for consumption - matching the age for alcohol and tobacco use in Alberta. The province will also mandate that legal weed be sold only in standalone stores, with no sales of alcohol, tobacco or pharmaceuticals in the same facility. [continues 447 words]
Rules for legal weed set minimum age at 18, allow use in public places The NDP government is weighing whether to set up government-run stores to sell marijuana in Alberta or leave the market to private retailers when recreational cannabis is legalized next year. Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley unveiled the government's proposed framework for legal weed Wednesday, with the province setting 18 as the legal age for consumption - matching the age for alcohol and tobacco use in Alberta. The province will also mandate that legal weed be sold only in stand-alone stores, with no sales of alcohol, tobacco or pharmaceuticals in the same facility. [continues 789 words]
Government proposes permitting pot in provincial parks and on street corners Next July, you'll be allowed to get high standing on a downtown street corner, walking your dog through Nose Hill Park or hiking in the Rocky Mountains. In its draft framework for legalized weed, the Alberta government has proposed among the most permissive rules so far in Canada on where pot can be smoked. They're even more lax than rules in Colorado and other legalized jurisdictions south of the border, according to a researcher who has studied the industry. [continues 668 words]
The Notley government wants public feedback on its new plan to manage legalized pot in the province. Here's some free advice that could save taxpayers a boatload of cash and a chronic headache. Don't get into the retail business. At a news conference in Calgary, Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley said Wednesday the province is putting together a framework surrounding who can buy and sell cannabis in Alberta. This comes in response to the federal government introducing legislation to legalize marijuana by next July. [continues 830 words]
Alberta NDP's cannabis retail rules could work, as long as sales remain in the private sector The Notley government's proposed rules for legal pot sales in Alberta, released Wednesday, might just work. The key will be whether the NDP can be convinced to let private retailers sell weed, rather than selling it through government-owned stores run by bureaucrats and staffed by union members. The proposals deal with who may buy weed and where, how it may be marketed and how to keep dope-impaired drivers off our roads and toked-up workers out of the workplace. [continues 558 words]
Minister announces policy framework, says legal age to consume will be 18 CALGARY - The NDP government is weighing whether to set up government-run stores to sell marijuana in Alberta or leave the market to private retailers once recreational cannabis is legalized next year. Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley unveiled the government's proposed framework for legal weed Wednesday, with the province setting 18 as the legal age for consumption - matching the age for alcohol and tobacco use in Alberta. The province will also mandate that legal weed be sold only in stand-alone stores, with no sales of alcohol, tobacco or pharmaceuticals in the same facility. [continues 523 words]
But as legalization nears, province still unsure how to sell the stuff If you're old enough to get drunk, you're old enough to get stoned. That might not be a government slogan, but it pretty much sums up the nub of Alberta's proposed marijuana laws. Those laws have yet to be drawn up, but on Wednesday morning, Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley unveiled the direction the government is headed. When possession of cannabis becomes legal across Canada next July, here are some of the proposed rules for Alberta: [continues 673 words]
I keep hearing arguments against the government's plan to legalize marijuana. It seems that those opposed believe there will be a massive increase in consumption and a huge increase in people driving while under the influence of the demon weed. As Mr. Snobelen points out it is quite simple to obtain and use the drug. I hope he is being facetious about driving ten miles an hour with doritos bags flying out the window. It is time we threw away all the misleading propaganda about marijuana. There are doctors, lawyers and other professionals that are regular users. These are not street people or ne'er do wells, these are people you interact with everyday. People would be shocked to discover the truth, you can use marijuana on a regular basis and it doesn't destroy your life. It's time we stopped believing the untruths used for prohibition. Corey Dahl Lac La Biche (What are those folks smoking?) [end]
Employers at a luncheon hosted by the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce were warned it was time to update their policies on medications and impairment, as the federal government plans to legalize recreational marijuana use next summer. During the Thursday afternoon meeting, members of Wood Buffalo's business community were given a presentation on what the future legislation will look like, what rights staff will have and the role employers can play in securing workplace safety. "With the legislation coming, and it will almost certainly pass, these issues will only grow and you will have to deal with it as an employers," said lawyer Michael Jones of Stringam LLP. "Safety is key, as is protecting human rights of the people you work with and who works for you." [continues 376 words]
With the nation-wide legalization of recreational marijuana coming up in July 2018, the clock is ticking for Alberta to put in place its own set of regulations. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is essentially legalizing weed while dumping the logistics of its distribution on the provinces. If anything goes wrong, he can blame the provincial governments and will still have kept his original election promise. Alberta is not alone without a plan. Of the 10 provinces and three territories, only Ontario and New Brunswick have come forward with their regulation methods, providing a study in contrasts for the other provinces' reference. [continues 460 words]
If access isn't convenient, legalization won't work, writes Andrew Klukas. In July 2018, the federal government will legalize the production and distribution of cannabis. Between now and then, the provinces and territories will have to decide how to adapt to this legislation. Whether or not one agrees with the legalization, everyone can agree that when it happens, the systems that the provinces put in place should promote the goals of legalization that, if realized, will be positive. Through its legislation, the federal government aims to move cannabis from the illegal market into a regulated system in which products can be taxed and where quality standards and controls protect citizens. [continues 579 words]
'I don't really think that's on the table,' minister says The NDP government says it isn't considering raising Alberta's legal age of 18 for drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco as it develops its policies around legal marijuana. Alberta Health Services, in its written submission to the government's consultations on legal cannabis, suggested the province consider a minimum age of 21 for marijuana consumption, and potentially raise the drinking and smoking tobacco age to match. But outside a meeting of Premier Rachel Notley's cabinet at McDougall Centre, Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley said changing the legal age for alcohol consumption is not on the agenda. [continues 119 words]
Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley says she's not expecting "complete consensus" as Alberta prepares to release its plan for legal cannabis in a matter of weeks. As the federal Liberal government prepares to legalize the recreational use of marijuana on July 1, 2018, it falls to the provinces to deal with issues such as the minimum age for consumption and how pot will be distributed and sold. In written submissions to its cannabis secretariat, Alberta's NDP government has heard wide-ranging options for how retail sales of marijuana should be handled, including allowing new standalone specialized stores, utilizing existing private liquor stores or government-controlled sales. [continues 417 words]
Maybe it's all the smoke in the air but the legalization of marijuana is as foggy almost nine-months out as it was when it was first announced. With consensus lacking on pretty much every issue, here and across Canada, Alberta Health Services waded into the debate with its suggestions for distribution, promotion and a minimum age for marijuana use. While stopping short of calling for 21 as the legal age, AHS cites studies suggesting risk to the developing brain as the possible impetus to align the minimum age of tobacco, alcohol and marijuana use. [continues 328 words]
Only now bothering to consider health impact of legalized marijuana If the Trudeau Liberals were Boy Scouts, they'd be miserable failures in living up to the troop's famous motto of "Be Prepared." Anyone who still thinks the Liberals have all the pieces in place in their rush to legalize the recreational use of marijuana by Canada Day 2018 has being smoking the drapes. Health concerns? Hmmm, perhaps it would have been best to have gotten onto this long before now, seeing as how sucking in THC-laced smoke into the lungs just might have some health repercussions for the burgeoning toker crowd. [continues 513 words]
Society needs to understand why people abuse substances There'll come a day, long after we're gone, when people will react with disbelief at how we now treat mental health. Those future Canadians will shake their collective heads in amazement in the manner we do today when looking back to a time when surgeons would routinely perform operations without first washing their hands. How could they have been so ignorant, will be the future common comment. But there's a chink of light emerging with next summer's planned legislation of cannabis use across Canada. Not that smoking dope is going to cure anyone's mental issues, probably the opposite, but it is recognition that locking people up as criminals because of an urge to consume mind-altering substances is being jettisoned as a long lost proposition. [continues 559 words]