Pubdate: Thu, 03 Dec 2015
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Laura Kane
Page: 6

ONE-STOP SHOPPING FOR BEER AND BUD

Union and liquor store association join forces to advocate for 
'responsible'marijuana sales

British Columbians may soon be able to buy recreational bud along 
with their beer in local liquor stores if two groups have their way.

The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union and the B.C. Private 
Liquor Store Association have joined forces to call for legal 
marijuana to be sold through the existing alcohol retail system. The 
partnership, called the Responsible Marijuana Retail Alliance of 
B.C., advocates for pot to be available in liquor stores by Christmas 2016.

BCGEU president Stephanie Smith said her union, which represents 
workers in nearly 200 public liquor stores, hasn't taken a position 
on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's plan to legalize marijuana.

"But we do believe that when this happens, it ought to be sold in the 
most socially responsible way possible in an age-controlled 
environment with the strongest track record of checking 
identification," she said Wednesday at a news conference in Burnaby.

Smith called legalization an "incredible opportunity" for B.C. 
because it already has an excellent system for distributing and 
selling alcohol.

Damian Kettlewell of the private liquor association, made up of more 
than 200 private liquor stores in B.C., envisions a system similar to 
the beer and wine industries. Producers of all sizes would sell their 
product to a central wholesaler at the liquor distribution branch, 
which would then distribute it to stores.

Kettlewell stressed the groups only want to sell recreational pot, 
not medical marijuana, so they don't expect their proposal to impact 
existing medical dispensaries.

He also said Canada should follow U.S. states that allow residents to 
grow small amounts of marijuana at home for personal use - similar to 
home brewing.

"The tax revenue from marijuana could fund a host of programs from 
addiction recovery, prevention programs aimed at youth, education 
about the dangers of impaired driving to more general programs like 
health and education," he said.

The details of tax rates and program spending are for the federal and 
provincial governments to decide, he added.

It's not clear yet which level of government would give the go-ahead 
to sell marijuana in liquor stores. Kettlewell said unions support 
the right of municipalities to decide against allowing pot to be sold locally.

B.C.'s Ministry of Justice said it's too early to speculate on any 
future legislation or its implementation, likewise for Department of 
Justice Canada.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom