Provinces can’t say no to pot
This editorial ran in the Winnipeg Free Press:
Some Manitobans might not like it, but at least this province now knows where it stands with its request for an extension of the date when marijuana will be legalized. There will be no extension. Ready or not, Manitobans — like all Canadians — can legally light up on July 1, 2018.
Finance Minister Cameron Friesen’s pitch for an extension was understandable, even admirable, in motivation. It’s the province and the city that get stuck with implementing the federal Liberals’ campaign promise to legalize pot. The legal, health and social issues surrounding a recreational drug with narcotic properties are complex and important.
Here is a sample of issues the province and city now face: will marijuana be sold in government liquor stores, or in standalone dispensaries? Will bars and other licensed premises such as Bell MTS Place and Investors Group Field be able to sell edible marijuana? Where will Manitoba sellers get their product wholesale? Will marijuana sellers be able to advertise their product to encourage consumption, or will it be sold such as tobacco, out of sight in stores? How will the price be set and how will it be taxed? After the product is legal and backyard gardeners can grow their own, how will the authorities police black-market sales? How will police test drivers for drugged driving in a way that’s reliable enough to stand up in court? What will be the legal age limit for buying marijuana, given the medical research that shows marijuana can permanently damage teenage brains that are not yet fully developed?
But Manitoba should recognize that its measures governing the brave new world of legalized marijuana can evolve after deadline. Nothing will be set in stone on July 1, 2018.
It’s also important to realize Manitoba can adopt best practices from other jurisdictions to meet the deadline and, as the years go on, fine tune the measures to meet Manitoba’s specific needs.
Marijuana users say the drug provides them a feeling of relaxation. It’s a sure bet that, for the provincial government, the issue of marijuana is anything but relaxing.