Pubdate: Tue, 30 Jan 2018
Source: Compass, The (CN NF)
Copyright: 2018 The Compass
Contact:  http://www.cbncompass.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3232
Authors: Andrew Robinson and Chris Lewis
Page: A1

MUNICIPALITIES GET READY FOR LEGALIZED MARIJUANA

Larger towns like Bay Roberts, Carbonear expect to field requests to
sell pot product

Municipal leaders in Conception Bay North's two largest towns expect
to field requests from entrepreneurs looking to earn a dollar off the
impending legalization of marijuana.

The topic of legalizing marijuana came up at Bay Roberts and Carbonear
council meetings held last Tuesday. Bay Roberts Mayor Philip Wood and
Chris O'Grady, Carbonear's acting mayor, both attended a meeting of
Newfoundland and Labrador urban municipalities committee a few days
prior to their respective council meetings.

Marijuana will be legal to sell and smoke under a variety of
restrictions as of July 1, 2018.

"Cannabis, or marijuana legalization was a hot topic out there," Wood
said, addressing fellow council members last Tuesday.

"We will treat any applications as normally you would a business
application, if someone wants to sell a certain product."

In this province, the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation
(NLC) is tasked with sourcing marijuana from Health Canada-certified
companies growing the product for mass distribution. The NLC will also
handle online sales and license retail marijuana shops.

Licensed retailers will also need to go directly to town councils and
seek commercial permits to operate.

At the Carbonear council meeting, O'Grady said new regulations are
expected regarding the minimum distance retailers must be from school
zones. "Be prepared for some development requests, as well as some
conversation around where these places will be located," O'Grady said
to fellow council members present at the meeting.

Wood noted there are some concerns about how public consumption of
cannabis products will be dealt with. The province has indicated
marijuana use will only be tolerated on private property.

"There is some thought that our local enforcement officers might be
involved a little bit in (policing its consumption)," Wood said. "Some
people wonder whether or not enforcement officers in towns will be
called to different areas to ask people to abide by the
regulations."

As is the case with alcohol, Newfoundland and Labrador has set the
legal limit to purchase and consume marijuana at 19 years of age.

In smaller communities, NLC will have the right to establish a retail
shop for selling cannabis products if there proves to be no private
interest in doing so. The province has also indicated it will prohibit
retailers selling marijuana from also distributing alcoholic products.

In December, the province announced a deal with the Canadian company
Canopy Growth to help supply the NLC. The company already has
facilities growing marijuana and committed to setting up one in
Newfoundland and Labrador to produce an estimated 12,000 kilograms
annually.

Canopy Growth will also set up four retail shops as part of the deal
with government.

The province will still have the option to source product from other
companies interested in supplying the NLC.
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MAP posted-by: Matt