Pubdate: Mon, 16 Jan 2017
Source: Metro (Winnipeg, CN MB)
Copyright: 2017 Free Daily News Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/winnipeg
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5322
Author: Braeden Jones
Page: 3
Referenced: A Framework for the Legalization and Regulation of Cannabis in
Canada - The Final Report of the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and
Regulation: http://mapinc.org/url/spC7LQBu

CANNABIS USERS VOICE HIGHS, LOWS OF REPORT

A local marijuana advocate is compiling criticism against Ottawa's task
force report on legalization in order to make sure Manitoba's cannabis
community "has a voice."

Steven Stairs, a medical marijuana user and grower who helps organize
Winnipeg's 420 rallies, said he reached out to Kildonan MLA Nicholas Curry
to talk about the highs and lows of the report.

Without making our voices heard early in the process, we won't have a leg
to stand on," he said.

Stairs shared the opportunity to weigh in with others in the cannabis
community, and has since been inundated with people contributing their
thoughts, which he'll work into his submission.

"Everybody is pretty on point with what we want, there's fairly good
consensus," he said.

Stairs notes the community supports store front sales, and separating the
sale of pot from liquor.

Most, however, reject potency taxes and plant height limits on personal
crops.

Stairs plans to deliver a comprehensive, informal report to Curry within
30 days so there is a "presence of (Winnipeg's) cannabis community in the
hands of people making decisions before the feds come out with the actual
legalization framework."

"That way we have our focal points already established and are a part of
the conversation rather than waiting before it's too late," he said.

The task force's recommendations are a net-win, Stairs added, but said
some form of protest action could take place if things take a turn between
now and legalization.

"A year from now it could be a totally different conversation; there are a
lot of concerns that if we don't see them being addressed in someway, I
will most certainly be leading protests at the legislative building.

"There will be many people with me and others with voices to be heard like
mine."

Ideally, though, Stairs wants his input to his local MLA to suffice,
adding that anyone with a strong opinion could either share it with him or
follow his example and write to their own MLA.
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