Big costs, no cash cow in legalized pot: Notley

It’s going to be challenging to get the province ready for the federal government’s deadline of July 1, 2018, for legalized marijuana in the country, says Premier Rachel Notley.

Bills tabled Thursday in the House of Commons in Ottawa kick-start a national move toward legalization of recreational pot for people 18 and older.

A lot of decisions in the “very ambitious project” will be left to provinces to figure out before the law takes effect, Notley told reporters Thursday at the Alberta legislature.

“Our government is focused on protecting kids, protecting health, protecting safety in our workplaces and highways, and doing so in a cost-effective way,” said Notley.

The federal government has set the minimum age at 18, but provinces can decide to bump that higher and choose how marijuana will be distributed.

Notley said she wants to have extensive consultations with Albertans before making any decisions.

She said the province has been looking at states like Colorado, which has already legalized marijuana, and is considering some of the pros and cons of legalization.

“It’s not the cash cow people think it is. There’s a lot of costs associated with it,” said Notley.

Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley said Thursday the federal government’s timeline for the legislation is “ambitious,” but hoped it would be possible and expected that there would be further conversations with the federal government if that changed.

Ganley said one thing the province learned from Colorado is it makes more sense to over-regulate the drug in the beginning, because it’s easier to remove regulations than to add them down the road.

Municipalities will also struggle with the tight turn-around, and need more time to get it right, said Alberta Urban Municipalities Association president Lisa Holmes in a news release.

Revenue should go towards supporting mental health and addiction services, said Alberta Liberal interim leader David Swann.

The legislation would allow police to use “oral fluid screening devices” to test for marijuana impairment.

The Edmonton Police Service “usually doesn’t participate in discussions regarding new or updated legislation” spokeswoman Carolin Maran said in an email Thursday.

She said the organization would be in a better position to speak to issues such as impaired driving in late June or early July.

A spokesperson at RCMP K Division said to expect a comment from the federal police force’s communications department next week.

Stiffer penalties for drugimpaired driving are good, but there are issues that still need to be addressed such as funding and public education, the Alberta Motor Association said in a news release.

“This is a complex issue that requires considerable police training and public education,” Jeff Kasbrick, AMA vice-president of government and stakeholder relations, said in a release Thursday.

“We’re still waiting for the details on additional funding to make the legislation enforceable. This needs to happen sooner rather than later.”

Workplace safety issues still need to be addressed, according to an Edmonton Chamber of Commerce position statement.

Keeping marijuana away from children is “paramount,” said a statement from the Alberta Liquor Store Association.

The organization applauds the decision to allow co-location of marijuana and alcohol sales.