Pubdate: Thu, 07 Jan 2016
Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.therecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225
Author: Vince Fiorito
Page: A7

MONOPOLIES SHOULD NOT CONTROL LEGAL MARIJUANA

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 Brewers Retail are models of
environmentally friendly packaging and recycling. Bravo.

My problem with the LCBO and Brewers Retail 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 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.

Recreation drug policy goals should include educating the public on
the risks associated with recreational drug use, with a long term
objective to decrease 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 marijuana consumption is
regulated to reduce harm to the individual and society.

We should not allow large powerful corporations in this business as
they become too powerful and difficult to control. For example,
because the LCBO is so powerful, we are currently stuck with a system
that promotes and encourages alcohol consumption to the benefit of
other large corporations and 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 deliberately 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 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 licenses 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 rather marijuana remained illegal with a punitive fine
for possession.

The author is a Burlington resident.
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MAP posted-by: Matt