Pubdate: Wed, 09 Mar 2016
Source: South Peace News, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2016 South Peace News
Contact:  http://www.southpeacenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2261
Author: Jeff Burgar

MARCH OF PROGRESS

We're not sure if this part of the world is ready for the sweet smell 
of marijuana wafting across the porch at Pleasantview Lodge.

Or for that matter, outside the Regional Health Complex, or even one 
of the local churches.

But it goes almost without saying, that will be happening if 
so-called "medical marijuana" catches on and becomes available in local stores.

The law with alcohol says home beer and wine makers can make their 
own for their own consumption. This hobby is popular enough you can 
buy kits in a few local stores. In bigger centers, there are sellers 
who specialize in a huge variety of kits, flavours, tools and what-nots.

Often, as part of the business and to satisfy demand, these shops 
often make room in the back of their shops so customers can whip up 
their own batches in a temperature controlled environment. Plus, they 
make available the tools and equipment to help bottle the production.

Yet, even with all this available, and the added attraction of low 
cost, home brew isn't exactly sweeping the province. It's much more 
convenient to drop into the local liquor retailer and pick up a dozen 
beer, or a couple bottles of Friday night wine.

So, legalized home growing of medical marijuana shouldn't be expected 
to, so to speak, take root in a big way. Thus, it is no surprise two 
of Canada's biggest drug retailing chains, Shoppers and London Drugs, 
have announced they want to be the first to retail out medical marijuana.

Is this good or bad?

Well, no matter what, selling pot will be a business. That's because 
it already is a business. Despite the wasted years, the thousands of 
people in jail, the tens of thousands of criminal records, and the 
wasted billions of wasted money on wars on drugs, peddling dope makes 
money. Governments might as well tax it and control it, the same way 
they tax and control other substances, notably alcohol.

When national chains see little downside to expressing an interest, 
one can safely assume the path to further decriminalizing will 
continue. So at the end of the day, the real question will be, does 
it matter where pot will be sold?

Shoppers and London Drugs both argue they already have the security 
systems in place to handle prescription drugs. So, regulated 
pharmacies should be the place to buy. Liquor stores can just as 
easily argue they already are used to looking after underage or 
buyers who might be inebriated. Lost so far in this discussion are 
customers. Should they have a say?

Colorado already has experience with selling legal marijuana. The 
business model there is herb, vitamin and natural remedy stores, as 
well as complete stand alone pot shops.

Potential customers should be alert. Alberta, and Canada, does not 
need a return to the days of government licensed stores, where you 
wrote out your order and passed it to a clerk who fetched your 
product from the back room. Or Men Only, and Ladies and Escorts bars.

In fact, it might be kind of nice to visit Gramps or Gramma down at 
the lodge and, if one is so inclined, discreetly share their joint.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom