Pubdate: Thu, 07 Jan 2016
Source: Hamilton Spectator (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 The Hamilton Spectator
Contact:  http://www.thespec.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/181
Author: Vince Fiorito
Note: The author is a Burlington resident.
Page: A11

LCBO, The Beer Store

MONOPOLIES SHOULD NOT CONTROL LEGAL MARIJUANA

Track Record Proves Incentives to Turn Profit Make Them Too Hard to Control

Respectfully, I must disagree with Premier Kathleen Wynne that the 
LCBO should control marijuana sales in Ontario. If the only issue 
associated with selling recreational drugs like tobacco, alcohol and 
marijuana was just keeping them out of reach of our youth during 
their formative years, then I would agree.

I would also add that the LCBO and The Beer Store are models of 
environmentally friendly packaging and recycling. Bravo.

My problem with the LCBO and The Beer Store is their size, their 
undue control of the alcohol industry as a regulated monopoly and 
their limited liability. They have a profit motive to promote and 
encourage increased alcohol consumption. They don't fund drug 
rehabilitation and counselling programs to reduce the harm to the 
individual and society from recreational alcohol consumption.

A large, powerful corporation like the LCBO would influence and 
eventually dictate government policy and control marijuana 
production, like they do now with alcohol. Not every bottle of wine 
or beer gets on an LCBO shelf, to the detriment of small wineries and 
microbreweries.

Policy goals should include educating the public on the risks 
associated with recreational drug use, with a long term objective of 
decreasing demand.

I believe in a "least harm" approach to guide marijuana 
decriminalization. I believe that current marijuana laws are more 
harmful to society and the individual than marijuana use itself. I 
support marijuana legalization, provided consumption is regulated to 
reduce harm to the individual and society.

We should not allow large corporations in this business as they 
become too powerful and difficult to control. For example, because 
the LCBO is so powerful, we are stuck with a system that promotes and 
encourages alcohol consumption to the benefit of other large 
corporations while small producers cannot compete fairly with large 
corporations.

We should not make the same mistakes with the emerging recreational 
marijuana industry as we did with the alcohol industry, that are now 
difficult to change.

The marijuana industry should be regulated as sole proprietorships 
and partnerships to maintain control and create the maximum number of 
small businesses and jobs. Corporations with limited liability and 
profit-sharing should be kept out of the recreational marijuana 
industry. Only those directly involved should share the risk and 
reward of marijuana production, distribution and sales. No 
profit-sharing with limited liability.

Overt public advertising should be prohibited, respecting the rights 
of parents to control what their children know and of people who 
don't want to see, hear or know about it. A simple standardized 
symbol over the door of a discreet marijuana cafe is enough. People 
entering a marijuana establishment give implied consent to see legal 
advertising and promotions inside. Locations of marijuana shops 
should be strictly controlled by municipal zoning and bylaws, and 
they may levy extra taxes. Marijuana production, distribution and 
sales should be monitored closely for abuses and if the owner/ 
operator breaks the law, they lose their marijuana licences and face 
punitive sanctions. Fines for smoking marijuana in public places 
should be similar to tobacco. People may grow a few plants for 
personal use, similar to vegetables. But they would need a licence to sell.

Corporate control of the marijuana industry, which promotes 
consumption, could lead to marijuana becoming as big of a problem for 
the individual and society as alcohol is now.

If we can't implement this change in a way that reduces harm to the 
individual and society, then I would prefer that marijuana remain 
illegal, with a punitive fine for possession.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom