Pubdate: Fri, 02 Dec 2016
Source: Burnaby Now, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2016 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.burnabynow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1592
Author: Jeremy Deutsch

POT SALES IN THE CITY'S LIQUOR STORES?

In December, city council will be considering a resolution by two
groups in the liquor industry proposing a non-medical marijuana
distribution model that permits pot sales only in licensed public and
private liquor stores.  Photograph By File

It was one of the big promises made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
during the last federal election. While the country waits for the
federal government to follow through on legalizing pot for
recreational use, the City of Burnaby wants to make sure it's prepared
to handle the drug when it happens.

In December, city council will be considering a resolution by two
groups in the liquor industry proposing a non-medical marijuana
distribution model that permits pot sales only in licensed public and
private liquor stores.

The proposal is being brought forward by the B.C. Government and
Service Employees' Union and the B.C. Private Liquor Store
Association. The two groups are asking local government for support
for the plan.

While Mayor Derek Corrigan said the proposal may not be that popular
with some of the smaller pot shops, he suggested it's an "attractive"
option.

He argued that having marijuana controlled like alcohol would help
prevent minors from getting their hands on the drug and put a store's
liquor licence on the line if they start doing something improper.

"I'm not satisfied if they (federal government) authorized it, that we
have a system in place for inspection and all of those things,"
Corrigan told the NOW.

The mayor said he wants to see a structure in place for the drug's
legalization, arguing the way Vancouver is handling the issue is
"anarchy to me."

Currently, Vancouver is allowing pot shops to operate as long as they
get a business licence from the city.

In June, the federal government announced it was moving forward with
plans to legalize and regulate marijuana, creating a task force to
look at the issue. The federal government also committed to
introducing legislation in the spring of 2017.

Pot is estimated to be a $7-billion-a-year industry in Canada.

Corrigan said the prime minister has to come up with a plan after
making the promise on the election trail.

He said without a federal plan, he expects regulation of illegal pot
to be even tougher, putting cities in a bad position to do their own
enforcement.
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MAP posted-by: Matt