Justin Trudeau's Liberal government recently introduced their long awaited legislation to legalize marijuana in Canada.

Banff-Airdrie Conservative MP Blake Richards thinks that, despite lengthy delays in bringing  it forward, the bill is short on important details and leaves countless questions unanswered.

Richards quips, "There's so many unanswered questions that one might even call it 'hazy'.  But puns aside, there is certainly a lot of questions there."

One of the main questions Richards has is how to deal with the issue of roadside testing for drivers who may be under the influence of the drug.  "We don't really have a reliable roadside test that's been developed here in Canada.  Beyond that, obviously there's a lot of questions about RCMP resources, etc."

There are many other questions that haven't been answered in Richards' mind.  Questions of workplace safety, how will the legislation make it safe for kids, and will legalization really take the criminal element out of pot sales.  Richards says, "When you're bringing forth legislation on something like this you need to have considered all these things and you need to have a plan to deal with them, and I don't think there is one."

Richards says a lot of the responsibility is being left to the provinces and they're being given a very short timeline to get their plans in place.  "They're now struggling with what their resonsibilities will be and what the costs will be.  I don't think when Justin Trudeau makes an election promise that it should be up to the provinces to keep that promise for him.  It should be his responsibility to answer these questions and make sure the right safe guards are put in place, not the provinces."

Richards is also concerned that studies show marijuana has a serious effect on the developing brain, which the same studies say takes place up to age 25.  The Liberals have set the age of possession at 18, although the provinces may set their age higher.  

These are all serious questions to Richards and he says the Conservatives will continue to push the Liberals to give some answers before they pass legislation to legalize marijuana.  

 

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