After months of consultation, the Alberta Government has presented their legislation for the national legalization of marijuana next year.

Solicitor General, Kathleen Ganley unveiled the new plan yesterday (November 16), which is officially known as the Act to Control and Regulate Cannabis.

Under the new act, the government will allow for the sale of cannabis through two means: An online government-operated retail system and privately owned physical locations, which will be overseen by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission. 

Minister Ganley says the reason why they're overlooking the online sales is to prevent underage Albertans from buying the product.

"The reason we're looking to backstop that with online sales through the government is because there were still these outstanding concerns both on our part and on the part of the public surrounding age verification."

The proposed legislation will set the legal age for use and purchase at 18, and allow for disciplinary actions to anyone under that age who possesses marijuana.

The new act would also ban co-location of cannabis sales with alcohol, pharmaceuticals and tobacco.

One of the issues that's still to be determined is how the product will be taxed. The Federal Government has already proposed a tax of $1 per gram and Provincial taxes could also be added to that.

Jeff Mooji, who owns the Alberta based 420 Clinic, says he's not concerned over tax rates.

"The cost of it, honestly for the market, isn't that big of a concern. We want a clean, safe, regulated product. If it's an extra dollar for the federal and an extra dollar here for the province then I think we'll be OK with that."

Some in Alberta are still concerned over the legalization, saying it's moving too fast to ensure that it's kept out of the hands of youth. That concern came from the head of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police.

Chief Andy McGrogan of Medicine Hat believes the timeline for legalization of pot is too aggressive and is also worried about impaired driving due to marijuana use and how police will enforce it.

The government created their cannabis legislation after hearing from over 60,000 Albertans and more than 100 organizations during their cannabis framework from June to October.

 

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