Pubdate: Wed, 25 Nov 2015
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Sarah-Joyce Battersby
Page: GT2

LCBO SHOULD CONTROL POT, TOO, UNION BOSS SAYS

Government-run weed store is a wrong-headed approach, marijuana 
advocates say after labour leader prompts talks

Stocking weed alongside wine at the LCBO is the best way to protect 
public health, say addiction experts. But for marijuana advocates 
it's more of the same prohibition.

In a statement released Monday, the union representing LCBO workers 
said the provincially owned stores are the ideal place to sell 
marijuana, should the federal government legalize it.

"If they do legalize it, then it's a drug," Warren (Smokey) Thomas 
told the Star. "So we think that, like alcohol, it should be controlled."

Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, said 
secure warehouses and staff trained to check ages are some of the 
reasons the LCBO should be the sole source of legal pot in the 
province, as it is with most alcohol.

The scheme would also generate revenue for the government to combat 
the potential social costs. But marijuana advocates say those social 
costs and the spectre of public danger are overblown, and 
government-run sales would continue a prohibitionist regulatory approach.

"Our view of course has always been that marijuana is one of the 
safest drugs. It's not any worse, slightly better, than coffee," said 
Blair Longley, the leader of the federal Marijuana Party.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals won this fall's election 
with an campaign platform promising to "legalize, regulate, and 
restrict access to marijuana." However, Longley maintains the drug 
should be proportionately restricted based on its danger. So ideally, 
he said, anyone should be free to grow and use the plant how she 
wishes with the informed consent as to any danger.

Hugo St-Onge, leader of Quebec's Bloc Pot party agrees that 
government stores are not the way forward.

"We need to stop comparing marijuana to alcohol," he said. "Marijuana 
should have its own model, its own system."

He prefers a food-model regulatory system, with sales done in a 
similar fashion to Amsterdam's cafes.

Dr. Benedikt Fischer is a senior scientist in the social and 
epidemiological research department at CAMH. The organization 
released a legalization framework in 2014 that called for a 
government monopoly on marijuana sales and distribution.

"We believe that it's the safest and most predictable system that 
will work toward the interests of public health," Fischer told the Star.

He added government control is needed to keep private interests at bay.

When it comes to alcohol sales, commercialization associated with 
private sales "is associated with increases in levels of use" 
according to Rebecca Jesseman with the Canadian Centre on Substance 
Abuse (CCSA).

"Cannabis is not a benign substance," said Jesseman, a senior policy 
adviser. "We want to make sure any regulatory approach we take is 
evidence-based and is implemented in such a way as to reduce the 
risks and harms associated with use."

Thomas conceded there's "a million questions to answer" about 
legalizing marijuana and he'd like to see all experts at the table. 
"I'll make sure our union is part of that debate, because I think 
we've got something to offer."

Provincial Finance Minister Charles Sousa told reporters Monday that 
with the feds just starting the process, the discussion was premature 
at Queen's Park. "But we are of course willing to participate in 
those discussions moving forward," Sousa said.

For its part, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario said in an emailed 
statement that any decisions would follow an official decision from 
both levels of government and it is not making any pitch on its own accord.

"Nonmedicinal marijuana is not currently legally sold and it would be 
up to federal authorities to decriminalize recreational marijuana. 
Should that occur LCBO would take direction from the provincial 
government as to any role for LCBO in the retailing of such," said 
LCBO spokesperson Keeley Rogers.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom