Pubdate: Fri, 22 Jul 2016
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Robert Benzie
Page: A9

PREMIERS PUSH FOR POT POLICY

Provincial leaders call on Ottawa to deliver plan soon so they can
build framework

WHITEHORSE- Canada's premiers are signalling they need swift action
from Ottawa on recreational marijuana legalization to keep cannabis
away from kids, motorists and criminals.

With a federal panel set to deliver a report this November that will
be the blueprint for legislation next spring, the provincial leaders
say time is of the essence.

"There's real concerns, there's concerns on so many levels," Manitoba
Premier Brian Pallister said Thursday at the annual Council of the
Federation meeting.

"I would hope that we can develop a national approach, a co-operative
approach, rather than each of us going in our own separate ways.

"There are issues in terms of public health, there are issues in terms
of public safety, there are issues in terms of determination of
distribution mechanisms and things like that. All of these issues have
to be discussed and have been made an important priority by the
federal government's commitment to move."

British Columbia Premier Christy Clark said Canada is in a troubling
limbo period as the provinces and territories await Ottawa's next moves.

"Young people should not have access to marijuana before they're of
age. People should know - if they're consumers of it - that the
product that they're getting is what they expect and the criminal
element must be kept out," Clark said.

"Those are the three things I'm most concerned about. We need to see
the federal legislation. Then once we get through that we will build a
system . . . that complies completely, but it will be focused on safety."

Clark noted that in B.C. - as in Toronto - unlicensed storefront pot
shops, which claim to sell medical marijuana to "patients," are a
cause for concern.

"These illegal dispensaries have become a real problem in Canada.
Nobody wants one in their neighbourhood, nobody wants one next to
their child's school, but they're popping up everywhere," she said.

"That's why I'm glad the federal government wants to move quickly on
it, because the criminal element is filling that grey area. We've got
to move before they get bigger."

While marijuana was not part of the formal agenda here at the annual
conference of provincial and territorial leaders, Ontario Premier
Kathleen Wynne said she and her colleagues wanted to broach the subject.

Wynne, who has 12 provincial departments working on Ontario's cannabis
strategy, said it's a key public policy change that political leaders
must address.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said his province "has a concern around
enforcement.

"We have a committee of ministers who are looking at those issues,
looking at the experience in Colorado and I think it's very important
that we're ready," Wall said.

"In our province, unfortunately, we have a high incidence of driving
while impaired and so we've got to be very careful . . . as we move
forward," he said. "We'll be sharing our information with other
provinces." Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil said that governments
across Canada need to be on the same page as legalized marijuana is
rolled out.

"What's the impairment test? Those are important things in terms of
road safety," McNeil said.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley conceded it's "obviously a very
complicated matter.

"Both my health minister and my minister of justice are in the process
of looking at the various options and coming up with a framework for
decision-making," Notley said, adding, like other premiers, she will
be cooperating with the federal task force led by former deputy prime
minister Anne McLellan.

"There's a lot of issues outstanding. We want to do it carefully and
thoughtfully," she said.

Prince Edward Island Premier Wade MacLauchlan said his province is
still determining its marijuana policy.

"I will be directly involved because I'm also minister of justice.
We're following things very closely as they unfold. We'll be looking
for the most effective way to deal with it," MacLauchlan said.
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MAP posted-by: Matt