Pubdate: Thu, 30 Mar 2017
Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Times Colonist
Contact:  http://www.timescolonist.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481
Author: Dan Parker
Page: A11

LET ALCOHOL LAWS GUIDE MARIJUANA LEGISLATION

Re: "Legal pot framework a long way off: Morneau," March 28.

I don't understand why the federal government is having such a problem
determining how to keep legalized marijuana out of the hands of
children and criminals. Why is it even concerned about this matter?
Isn't that up to the individual provinces in the same manner as their
control of alcohol?

The federal government sets and collects the excise tax on alcohol;
that is what it should be doing with any other legal recreational
drug. It also has the power to set the criminal offences for illegal
production and setting the legal personal production in the same way
it does with the production of alcohol.

The provincial governments determine the laws for the control,
distribution and licensing of retail establishments of alcohol and
alcoholic beverages. That should provide the blueprint for handling
marijuana, including the licensing of the product's source, quality,
purity and strength, be it for medical and/or recreational use and in
what states (e.g. liquid, solid as candy or baked goods, hashish or
loose like tobacco) it may be sold.

There is no reason the legalization of marijuana should take much
longer, which would allow the police to handle more serious matters.

Dan Parker

Osoyoos
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MAP posted-by: Matt