The legalization of recreational marijuana has now received Royal Assent from Parliament so now what ?
Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson says they plan to continue on the same timeline that they have already established, noting that there are still a lot of unanswered questions…
“The primary one is where are the resources going to come to communities to allow us to actually do the planning, the policing, the various other social aspects that are going to occur as a result of enabling the recreational sale of marijuana, so we have lots of questions for the province, we also have to engage the community in a proper process around zoning for marijuana retail.”
Simpson says that includes where facilities can and cannot operate.
He says he understands the province is going to be opening up the application process soon, but he says Council is not ready…
“An applicant needs a resolution from local government. Local governments across the province have been telling the province we don’t know how to vet applicants, how do we know they’re not a front for organized crime ? Who’s going to do the work to ensure that we’re dealing with legitimate businesses ? And we still have to do the work with the province around public consumption, the Federal Government still doesn’t have the motor vehicle changes that are necessary for driving intoxicated with marijuana, so lots of work that has to be done.”
Simpson says he doubts things will be ready to go in Quesnel by October 17th and he says he also expects a lot of confusion on that day.