Pubdate: Wed, 13 Sep 2017
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2017 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.theprovince.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Malcolm Bird
Page: 15

POT LEGALIZATION MEANS CHALLENGES FOR PROVINCES

The Trudeau government is set on legalizing marijuana by next summer.
While they will enjoy the political payoff of appearing progressive on
the issue, all of the problems and logistics of legalizing pot will
fall on the provinces.

There are strong correlations between how a drug or an indulgence like
gambling is made available to the public and the propensity for
individuals to indulge in it, and the negative health and social
outcomes associated with its use.

Provincial governments might want to draw lessons from the last time
an illegal substance was legalized - alcohol - following prohibition
in the late 1920s, as well as insights from the current public health
efforts to eliminate tobacco use. For starters, it might make sense to
make acquiring recreational marijuana reasonably expensive and
somewhat difficult.

All provincial governments (except Alberta, which eliminated its
liquor board) should consider only selling recreational marijuana in
government liquor stores because they have the secure infrastructure
to deal with a drug with narcotic properties. They also have
professional staff and secure logistical facilities to ensure
marijuana is distributed responsibly. This will eliminate the
potential political problem of licensing and determining where (and
when) dispensaries will be permitted to open, and eliminate the
possibility of organized criminals establishing and operating
dispensaries.

Most critically, government should not only control the retail end of
marijuana, but the wholesale side too. They should sell recreational
marijuana as a "store brand" in plain packaging, and offer only a few
different types. This will prevent manufacturers from developing and
promoting specific brands of pot through advertising campaigns.

"Store brands" are more profitable for retailers largely because they
gain more control over manufacturing and cut out supplier middlemen.
As the sole wholesaler in a province, provincial liquor boards would
be able to drive hard bargains with manufacturers.

There must also be significant taxes imposed on pot. But taxes will
not earn significant revenues as governments must also cover the costs
associated with its misuse.

Government revenue from the sale of pot will already be restricted
given the decline in pot prices over the last 25 years: a gram of pot
in the 1990s cost $15; today it is less than $10.

Contrary to popular belief, the legalization of marijuana will require
an increase in police and legal efforts to stamp out the black market.
When government liquor commissions took over alcohol distribution,
bootleggers had to be eliminated or they would undercut the state's
monopoly on sales and its ability to control how it was sold and consumed.

Policies will also need to be developed to allow the police to
determine which pot has been legally procured and which has not. Since
federal legislation will permit individuals to grow their own
marijuana plants, verifying legally procured marijuana will be difficult.

Provinces should also be wary about offering edible pot. Ingesting
marijuana substantially increases its potency and is often sold as
child-attractive products such as brownies or gummy bears,
substantially increasing the risk of accidental consumption, including
by children. If provinces decide to sell edibles, they should ensure
that dosage amounts per item are consistent among different products,
and presented in a manner that is easy for consumers to understand.

The provinces will also need to establish a permit and purchase
tracking system. That would allow government to determine who is
purchasing marijuana and if individual sales could be tracked to
original purchases. This would aid in preventing marijuana ending up
in the hands of minors. Persistent violators who resell marijuana, for
instance, could have permits revoked.

Governments should consider restricting the purchase age to 21 as
recommended by many medical practitioners, and in order to limit
consumption and normalization of its use. There should also be no
advertising or promotion of marijuana.

I make these suggestions as a way to make the best of a very difficult
situation. Consumption of marijuana will likely rise, as will the
associated costs of dealing with its effects on individuals. Like many
issues in Canadian federalism, this is a classic one where the federal
government is wholly detached from the reality of implementing the
policy, and the real costs associated with it.

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Malcolm Bird teaches political science at the University of Winnipeg and 
is an expert adviser with EvidenceNetwork.ca
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MAP posted-by: Matt