Pubdate: Thu, 03 Dec 2015
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2015 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Laura Kane
Page: S1

GROUPS CALL FOR LEGALIZED POT TO BE SOLD IN LIQUOR STORES

British Columbians may soon be able to buy recreational bud along 
with their beer, if private liquor stores and the union representing 
workers in government-owned stores get their way.

The BC Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) 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, in 
both government and private stores.

The partnership, called the Responsible Marijuana Retail Alliance of 
B.C., advocates for pot to be available in liquor stores by Christmas of 2016.

BCGEU president Stephanie Smith said her union, which represents 
workers in nearly 200 public liquor stores, has not taken a position 
on whether it supports 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 told a news conference Wednesday.

Ms. Smith called legalization an "incredible opportunity" for British 
Columbia because it already has an excellent system for distributing 
and selling alcohol.

"Creating a new parallel system for the sale of non-medical marijuana 
will be incredibly costly, time-consuming and would divert money from 
social programs, education and addiction treatment into an additional 
bureaucracy," she said.

Damian Kettlewell of the private liquor association - made up of more 
than 200 private liquor stores in the province - said they envision a 
system that is similar to 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.

Mr. Kettlewell stressed that the groups only want to sell 
recreational pot, not medical marijuana.

He also said the federal government should follow in the footsteps of 
American states that have allowed 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. Ms. Smith said she believes that 
when the federal government legalizes the drug, it will fall under 
provincial jurisdiction, similar to alcohol.

Municipalities also exert control over land use and zoning, and Mr. 
Kettlewell said the unions support the right of communities to decide 
against allowing pot to be sold locally.

B.C.'s Justice Ministry said in a statement that it's too early to 
speculate on the specifics of any future legislation or its implementation.

"Marijuana control is a federal responsibility and B.C. will continue 
to monitor and would participate in any consultation the government 
of Canada may conduct around proposed changes," the statement said.

The federal Justice Department also said it was premature to comment 
on specifics.

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger has said government liquor stores are 
the best place to sell marijuana when the federal government 
legalizes the drug.

The president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, Warren 
(Smokey) Thomas, has also called for legal pot to be sold in 
provincial liquor stores.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom