Stuck in the
Weeds
Municipalities must scramble
to prepare for marijuana
legalization
By Sarah B. Hood
C
anada is moving swiftly ahead
with its plan to regulate and
legalize marijuana, and On-
tario’s municipalities are fac-
ing a busy year of setting in place the li-
censing and regulatory framework that
will allow for a seamless transition to
the new system in the summer of 2018.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has
consistently championed a change in
Canada’s marijuana laws, and on April
13, his government introduced its pro-
posed Cannabis Act, which is very much
informed by the Final Report of the
Task Force on Cannabis Legalization
and Regulation, released last June. To
be implemented no later than July 2018,
the act would allow Canadian adults to
possess, use and share up to 30 grams
of cannabis legally, but would introduce
new criminal offences related to sell-
ing or giving cannabis to minors, and
include tougher rules around impaired
driving.
In addition, provincially regulated
retailers would be allowed to sell fresh
or dried cannabis, cannabis oil and
6
Q2 2017 www.amcto.com
seeds. It would be legal to
it will impact our prov-
grow marijuana for per-
ince and municipalities,”
sonal use, up to a limit of
said Ontario Attorney
four plants per household,
General
Yasir
Naqvi
and to prepare cannabis-
when the legislation was
containing food or drinks
announced. “Since the
at home, but initially, can-
federal government made
nabis comestibles would
their commitment to
not be legal for sale.
legalize and regulate can-
The federal govern-
nabis in Canada, we have
ment would take the lead Shayne Turner
established a dedicated
in establishing restrictions
secretariat that leads and
and criminal penalties relating to legal
co-ordinates the province’s efforts
cannabis use; for licensing and moni-
through cross-government working
toring production, product standards,
groups focused on policy and program
packaging and promotion; for creating
development. Ontario will continue to
minimum conditions for distribution
work with the federal government to
and retail sales, and for enforcing border
develop a responsible approach that
laws. Distribution and sales would be
aligns with their legislative framework,
licensed and overseen at the provincial/
and collaborate with other provinces,
territorial level. Provinces, territories
including Quebec, to share best prac-
and municipalities could create further
tices and information.”
restrictions beyond the federal stan-
Shayne Turner is director of munici-
dards (such as a higher minimum age
pal enforcement services with the City
than the federally mandated age of 18).
of Waterloo. He’s part of the municipal
“We look forward to reviewing this
advance guard that has been work-
bill in detail, and determining how
ing to prepare for the coming changes,