The B.C. government will consult the public on aspects of marijuana legalization that fall under the province鈥檚 control, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth announced Monday.
From now until Nov. 1, people can go to to voice their opinions on how the government can keep 鈥測oung people, neighbourhoods and roads safe鈥� once the drug becomes legal next year.
It鈥檚 up to the provinces and territories to decide how to regulate the distribution and retail sales of marijuana, as well as how to enforce marijuana impairment on the road.
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鈥淲e are doing everything we can to make sure we meet the July timeline,鈥� Farnworth told reporters, referring to when Ottawa is expected to change the law. The results of this public consultation won鈥檛 be available until the spring.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a tight timeline. We鈥檝e asked for more time鈥� I鈥檇 like to have more time, but every statement we鈥檝e heard from the feds says no, July is the date.鈥�
He emphasized the importance of giving municipalities a chance to be heard.
鈥淥ne size does not fit all,鈥� said Farnworth, noting the opinions of cities outside of the Lower Mainland are often overlooked when senior governments implement new policies.
鈥淭his is not about bringing in a revenue stream for the province,鈥� he added. 鈥淚f that鈥檚 how provinces are approaching it, they鈥檙e making a big mistake.鈥�
Farnworth, who visited Washington State and Oregon with Finance Minister Carol James to learn about experiences there, said both states were emphatic about how much money legalization will cost long before it brings in any cash.
Vancouver city councillor Kerry Jang, who was also at the announcement, concurred.
鈥淓ven Colorado and Washington have been lowering their [marijuana] tax rates because although they鈥檙e getting money, it doesn鈥檛 matter; there鈥檚 still a black market,鈥� said Jang. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not achieving your public health goals.鈥�
No agreement has been made yet, Farnworth added, for revenue sharing between federal, provincial and municipal governments.
On a one size fits all model, from
鈥� Kat (@katslepian)
