OTHER VIEWS Don’t rush pot law

‘Go slow — take your time,” is the excellent advice Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was given last year on his plan to legalize recreational marijuana in Canada. The speaker was none other than Anne McLellan, leader of the federal government’s task force on the issue, and her message was: Do your homework and get the job right the first time around.

The caution from this former Liberal deputy prime minister was wise. It seems even more urgent now after nine Canadian premiers told the prime minister last week they have so many concerns about his promise to legalize recreational pot starting July 1, 2018, that they might ask him to postpone the change.

Trudeau’s target date, they warned, “may be unrealistic.” Trudeau immediately quashed the possibility of any delay in keeping a major election promise and meeting his deadline — arbitrary though the latter is. That was a mistake. The premiers’ questions are legitimate, significant and need answers.

While Ottawa has the power to legalize recreational pot, the provincial governments have a major role to play. And it could take more than the 11 months before the current legalization deadline for them to be fully prepared.

It’s understandable that after being hammered for breaking election promises on democratic reform and the size of federal deficits Trudeau would be adamant about keeping this one. But he could delay the implementation date by a year or more and still have marijuana legalized by the 2019 general election.

Finally, while that law is coming, Trudeau should consider decriminalizing pot for individual users.

Hamilton Spectator