Pubdate: Tue, 28 Mar 2017
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 The Windsor Star
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Dalson Chen
Page: A1

A GREENER 2018 CANADA DAY? POT DATE SET: REPORTS

Use of marijuana recreationally expected to be legal next summer

Next year's Canada Day celebration just might be the greenest one
ever, with reports that the federal government has set a date for
national marijuana legalization: July 1, 2018.

CBC News broke the story on Sunday night, stating that MP Bill Blair -
the former Toronto police chief who has been handling the marijuana
file for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau - spoke to the Liberal caucus
about the issue over the weekend.

If true, the roll-out plan will follow the recommendations of the
federally appointed task force: Ottawa will licence the producers, but
provincial governments will decide how marijuana is distributed and
sold.

The provinces will also set the price.

Federally, the minimum age to purchase marijuana will be 18 - but each
province will have the right to set a higher age limit.

Home-growers will be limited to four plants per household.

"Myself, I'm happy about it," said James Marcoux, owner and operator
of home hydroponics retailer The Urban GreenHouse (7635 Tecumseh Rd.
E.). "Patients and customers have been anticipating this."

Since 2010, Marcoux has been selling everything one might need for
soil-free home horticulture - and yes, that includes those who have
registered with Health Canada to grow their own marijuana.

"We've helped hundreds of people in this area get their licences,"
Marcoux explained, expertly naming the various frameworks for medical
marijuana that the federal government has enacted and replaced in
recent years.

"We've helped them navigate the MMAR (Medical Marijuana Access
Regulations), the ACMPR (Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes
Regulations), and the MMPR (Marihuana for Medical Purposes
Regulations)." Marcoux feels it can only help his business if the
future of marijuana in Canada means less red tape and more green thumbing.

"It's very important that you have the right equipment," Marcoux said.
"Lights, containers, grow medium and fertilizer - those are the basics."

Information and experienced advice are readily available. Marcoux said
it takes about four months to go from seed to consumable product. "You
can certainly grow it very easily with little effort. But the more you
put into it, the more it rewards you."

According to CBC News, the Liberals will be making their official
announcement on their legalization plans during the week of April 10.

Last April, the Liberal government promised that parliamentary
processes on marijuana legislation would be underway around this time
this year.

Jon Liedtke, pot activist and co-owner of downtown Windsor's Higher
Limits Cannabis Lounge (251 Ouellette Ave.) said he's glad the
government is making good on its schedule. "But at the same time,
there's definitely a need to be questioning why there are arrests
still going on right now. Why are people being punished for products
that will be legal relatively soon?" Liedtke asked.

Liedtke noted that earlier this month, police across the country
raided numerous cannabis dispensaries, including those of Canadian pot
activists Marc and Jodie Emery. The couple face multiple counts of
trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking, and conspiracy
to commit an indictable offence.

"The government and the police are trying to abide by the current law
of the land. But it appears hypocritical to those who know the
legislation is coming," Liedtke said. "We're at a weird state where
laws are changing."

All that said, Liedtke remains excited about the future. Like Marcoux,
he anticipates cannabis related businesses will grow.

"Not just from locals, but tourists as well. They're going to want to
cross the border and see what legalization of cannabis looks like."

Liedtke said Higher Limits has had roughly 17,000 visits over the past
year.
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MAP posted-by: Matt