Pubdate: Tue, 24 Nov 2015
Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.torontosun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://torontosun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457
Author: Antonella Artuso
Page: 3

PROVINCE NOT HIGH ON POT AT LCBO?

Ontario is not ready to talk about selling pot in liquor stores,
Finance Minister Charles Sousa says.

"It would be premature to discuss what will happen with the
legalization or decriminalization of marijuana," Sousa said Monday.

Warren "Smokey" Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service
Employees Union (OPSEU) - which represents LCBO employees - told the

Toronto Sun Friday that the most socially responsible place to sell
legal bud would be through the government-owned liquor retail chain.

"If legalization happens, marijuana must be a controlled substance,
and no one has more experience retailing controlled substances than
the workers at the LCBO," Thomas said in a statement Monday. "The LCBO
has a solid track record of responsibly selling alcohol and would
bring the same service standard to marijuana."

The LCBO has a secure warehouse and distribution system, and a
laboratory which currently conducts 500,000 tests a year on alcohol
products, he said.

"All the infrastructure is in place for a smooth transition to a safer
system," Thomas said. "There's no need to reinvent the wheel."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to legalize weed but has
yet to release many details of his plan.

"When it comes to marijuana, that's up to the federal government and
we'll have that discussion ongoing," Sousa said.

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger has suggested the drug should be sold
through that province's liquor stores.

Ontario PC MPP Tim Hudak tweeted in response: "Well if (government)
stores are going to sell pot, at least we know quality will be poor,
the price high and the hours lousy."

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said she wouldn't rule out selling
marijuana through the LCBO but predicted that it wouldn't be a product
found on shelves anytime soon.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Matt