A SOCIAL SHIFT BUT NO FREE-FOR-ALL
Marijuana legislation introduced Thursday will likely shift the cannabis landscape in the Ottawa region, from creating more jobs at large production plants to uncertainty for illegal cannabis dispensaries.
The legislation lays out some specifics. Those over 18 will be allowed to buy marijuana, and even grow some of their own, for example. But much of how the legislation will roll out will be left to individual provinces — how and where it will be sold, for example. That means a lot of the enforcement will be up to municipalities and their agencies, such as police.
It remains unclear what this will mean for Ottawa. One thing is for sure. Those already in the marijuana business see it as an opportunity for growth.
Mark Zekulin, president of Canopy Growth Corporation, formerly known as Tweed Inc., said the legislation is a “great step forward” that has established a well-regulated federal system and a focus on education and drug-impaired driving.
Canopy is the in the process of tripling the size of its Smiths Falls production facilities to 470,000 square feet. The company is already the largest producer of medical marijuana in Canada, with a 100-person call centre and a delivery system. As a business, the marijuana bill is great news for Canopy and other companies like it, said Zekulin.
“There is a need for much more production, for large producers like us, and for smaller producers, as well.”
There are already about 200 staff working across the company, which includes facilities all over the province. There are plans to expand to more than 600 workers, said Zekulin. About one-third of the staff work in the flagship location in Smiths Falls.
“It’s just more and more jobs,” said Zekulin. “It’s not just growers. We need people for customer care and to answer the phones.”
Sébastien St-Louis is CEO of Hdydropothecary in Masson-Angers, across the Ottawa River from Orléans.
Hydropothecary is Quebec’s only licensed producer of medical marijuana, and now the company plans to move into the recreational market. The company employs about 70 workers in Masason-Angers and is the town’s third-largest employer. And St-Louis expects to hire more people. The company recently announced that it would expand its current 42,000 square feet of space to 300,000 square feet in 2018, with more possible in the future.
“I think we’re a fantastic employer,” said St-Louis. “We have had a huge economic impact.”
He believes that the legislation will push out some of the blackmarket brands currently on the market. As it stands, illegal marijuana counts for billions in sales, while licensed product accounts for only a few million dollars a year. The legislation would introduce strict controls on advertising, marketing and branding of legal marijuana. Producers need storefront operations — accessible only to adults — where consumers can see a broad spectrum of the variety of products, said St-Louis.
Some expect the legislation will lead to more consumer safety and offer relief for neighbourhoods where illegal marijuana dispensaries are discouraging the growth of other kinds of businesses.
Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury compared the new legislation to loosening the prohibition on alcohol, which took distribution of booze out of the hands of illegal organizations. Those who buy marijuana from unlicensed sources now can’t be sure of the quality or safety of the product, said Fleury. Going to one of the city’s proliferating dispensaries is “like going to a dealer on the street. I find it frustrating that those who are in favour of legalization have no appreciation of standardizing the product.”
Marijuana dispensaries have been detrimental to some neighbourhoods, including Montreal Road in Rideau-Vanier, said Fleury. The dispensaries, payday loan offices and pawn shops create a business mix that does little to make the neighbourhood appealing to other businesses, he said. “We have lots of good stores, but they are being affected.”
Meanwhile, those who work in marijuana dispensaries wonder what the future holds for them. Since November, 29 people have been charged in police raids in Ottawa. Police have warned that the dispensaries are illegal and carry unregulated products that may be unsafe. Those who operate and work in dispensaries have argued that they are selling products with medicinal value.
Leanne Wilson, a “budtender” at the Cannabis Culture dispensary, believes not much will change under the legislation aside from eliminating street-level dealers.
“The fact that I know that kids are going to be safer from it, that they’re going to have to show ID to prove they’re of age. Quality control is another important aspect that I think is going to be a major benefit from legalization. Better selection, better choices of what they’re looking for as far as an effect. So if you’re looking for a lower THC or a higher CBDs, things like that.”
But fellow budtender Ming Saad feels the new laws are as restrictive as ever. “It looks like its prohibition 2.0. They keep saying restrict access, enforce stricter laws.”
The legislation contains some things marijuana activist Shawn Mac didn’t expect, including allowing users to grow up to four plants per residence. Still, he expects years of legal challenges. “They’ve basically not put a BandAid on the situation, but essentially done what everybody was assuming they were going to do and (are) sort of taking baby steps towards it. This is something that people are going to end up having to fight for for another few years.”
Both Mayor Jim Watson and police Chief Charles Bordeleau declined to comment on Thursday, saying they needed more time to look at the bill. Bordeleau’s office said he would likely not comment until after Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Watson said he will want to know what tools police have to properly enforce charges against those driving under the influence of drugs. There are questions around how saliva tests will be applied, for example.
The city would have some role and responsibility around the location of retail operations, he said.
“Obviously, I don’t want to see them next door to a school or a nursery or in some residential area. I think they have to be somewhere where they make sense but they don’t end up next door to a high school ... I don’t want to have sort of a haphazard bunch of momand-pop shops.”
Speaking to reporters on Thursday afternoon, Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale said existing laws will be respected until new legislation comes into effect. “It’s not a free-for-all,” he said.
Acting Staff Sgt. Peter Leon, a spokesman for the OPP, said police leaders will need time to take a look at the proposed legislation.
“That being said, it’s accurate to say our job is to uphold and enforce the law. And we will continue to uphold the current legislation until we are made aware of any changes.”