B.C. pot rules headed in right direction: Morris

Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris said the provincial government has made a good first step on regulating recreational marijuana use, but the issue is complex and a lot of work remains to be done.

On Tuesday, the NDP government unveiled plans which will set the minimum age for marijuana use at 19, see recreational marijuana distributed through the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch and pledged to develop a retail model with both public and private sellers (see related story).

“I’m glad to see they’ve arranged for a point for the distribution,” Morris said. “There needs to be strict controls who whoever grows it. They need to control the quality... and the THC content of the drug. Public health is one of the big concerns we had.”

Having a government agency act as the sole wholesale purchaser and distributor of recreational marijuana will allow more control over who is producing the drug and how it is grown, Morris said.

Morris, who worked on the issue as the former minister of public safety and solicitor general in the previous Liberal government, said there are 18 separate pieces of provincial legislation affected by the federal government’s move to legalize recreational pot use.

Although the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch will act as the wholesaler, Morris said B.C. Liquor Stores and private cold beer and wine stores shouldn’t be the point of sale to the public. Both the federal and provincial governments heard concerns from addictions experts that alcohol and marijuana shouldn’t be sold in the same locations.

“I hope we see a completely separate store front,” Morris said.

Another major concern is making sure organized crime gangs, which currently grow and sell recreational marijuana, are driven out of business, he said.

“We have to ensure the price is kept as low as possible to discourage the black market,” Morris said.

— see ‘THEY’VE GOT, page 5