Alberta outlines specifics on cannabis sales Alberta expects to issue 250 licences for cannabis stores this year, and says anyone who wants to run a weed shop will first undergo an exhaustive check ranging from tax records to mob ties. "We believe that our regulations will strike the right balance," Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley said Friday in Calgary as she unveiled the new regulations for marijuana distribution. "The system that we are putting in place in Alberta will create an environment in which retailers can legally sell cannabis and provide access to safe products while keeping the health and safety of Albertans in mind." [continues 503 words]
Marijuana to be legal across Canada July 1 Alberta is putting the legislative pieces in place for legalized marijuana, starting with changes to align its rules with pending Criminal Code amendments. "Impaired driving is the leading cause of criminal death and injury in Canada," Transportation Minister Brian Mason said Tuesday after introducing Bill 29 in the legislature. "If this bill passes, it will support our government's goal of zero impairment (and) related collisions and fatalities on Alberta roads." Marijuana is to be legal across Canada as of July 1, and the federal government is revising and toughening criminal charges for impaired driving to include cannabis and mixing cannabis with alcohol while behind the wheel. [continues 366 words]
The health implications of legalized cannabis and ways to combat Canada's rising opioid problem are on the agenda when health ministers meet this week in the Alberta capital. Provincial and territorial ministers will hold discussions today and will get an update on the marijuana file from federal counterpart Ginette Petipas Taylor on Friday. Manitoba Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen says he wants to know more about the impacts on health and on the health system. "Many studies show that people are affected by the consumption of marijuana up until the age of 25 because there can be long-term effects if the brain is still developing up until that age," said Goertzen. [continues 308 words]
The advocacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving wants Alberta to sell marijuana through government-run stores - at least in the short term - to ensure public safety before profit. Andrew Murie, the CEO of MADD, points to marijuana stores in the United States that slash prices to mark the annual April 20 counter-culture celebration of public cannabis consumption. "There are a lot of people that want to make a lot of money on this legalization, a lot of entrepreneurs, and they're not interested in public safety," Murie said in an interview Thursday. [continues 503 words]
Failing that, provinces will call for a delay EDMONTON - Canada's premiers say the federal government needs to provide more clarity as they work to craft rules on legalizing marijuana - or Ottawa will face a call for a delay. "It's great that the prime minister wants to stick to his deadline. That's super-duper," Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said Wednesday at the closing news conference of the leaders' annual summer meeting. "He needs to then hear what the premiers of his country - our country - - have said we need help with. There are a number of significant and serious public policy issues here. They need to be addressed. They should be addressed co-operatively." [continues 474 words]
Premiers Frustrated By Lack Of Answers From Federal Gov't On Pot Legalization Canada's premiers say the federal government needs to provide more clarity as they work to craft rules on legalizing marijuana - or Ottawa will face a call for a delay. "It's great that the prime minister wants to stick to his deadline. That's super-duper," Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister said Wednesday at the closing news conference of the leaders' annual summer meeting. "He needs to then hear what the premiers of his country - our country - - have said we need help with. There are a number of significant and serious public policy issues here. They need to be addressed. They should be addressed co-operatively." [continues 432 words]
Overdose deaths reach 343 in 2016 An increasing number of fentanyl overdose deaths in Alberta has prompted the government to announce new efforts to combat the opioid. Associate Health Minister Brandy Payne says 343 people died from fentanyl overdoses last year - a 25 per cent increase from 257 deaths in 2015. The total number of deaths was 117 the year before that. "Opioid overdoses and deaths are a public health crisis in Alberta," Payne said Tuesday at a news conference at a downtown fire hall. [continues 484 words]
Frustration With Justice System Surfaces in Mayerthorpe MAYERTHORPE, Alta. - James Roszko lay in wait inside his Quonset hut for four Mounties he gunned down in a battle that ended with Roszko himself being wounded, RCMP said Saturday. "Our officers, all four of them, were shot and killed by James Roszko," said regional Supt. Marty Cheliak, releasing results of post-mortem examinations. "None of our officers were struck by friendly fire. James Roszko was hit by return fire by our officers. Those strikes did not result in his death. James Roszko then took his own life." [continues 879 words]
