Canada task force makes recommendations for legal weed

NDP MLA Mike Farnworth accused the B.C. Liberal government of failing to consult the public sooner.

The marijuana task force report, headed by former Canadian Liberal Health Minister Anne McLellan, recommended that adults could carry up to 30 grams for recreational objective and grow up to four plants. But that isn’t the the case in neighboring states, where pot possession remains illegal. The task force is recommending against the “co-location” of marijuana sales with alcohol and tobacco. McLellan points out that Uruguay, with a population of 3.5 million, faced different issues.

“We heard from a great many parties that they wanted a diversity of producers, and we agree with that”, chair McClellan said. “Know that you’re going into territory that is relatively unfounded, and learn as you go”.

Healy and other legal analysts say the lag-time and other provisions in the new law could initially cause confusion for marijuana users and possibly law enforcement, as well.

Linton says limiting package information won’t tell consumers “whether this will make you euphoric or contemplative or sleepy”.

“In practice, it is hard to separate marketing that is particularly appealing to youth from any other marketing”.

Another key concern is driving under the influence of cannabis.

“Control for level of THC and/or portion size”. Dr. Mark Ware served as task-force vice chair.

Allow the sale of edibles, as long as they are not deemed to be “appealing to children”.

Edible pot products must not be “appealing to children” and can not mimic familiar food items or be packaged to look like candy – an oft-cited concern with the fast-growing edibles market in USA jurisdictions where legalized recreational cannabis sales are already in place.

“This is a comprehensive report, and the framework it outlines for legalizing cannabis in Canada will have many ramifications for B.C”, Mike Morris, BC’s Public Safety Minister, said in a statement.

State elections officials said Wednesday the process is back on track after a slight delay at the start, and that state staff and other volunteers filled in when necessary.

“The science indicates that risks from marijuana usage are elevated until the brain fully matures (i.e., when someone reaches about age 25)”.

Adults can legally purchase and sell accessories for their cannabis under the ballot measure, which has defined marijuana tools as equipment, products and devices of any kind intended or designed for growing, processing, ingesting, inhaling and storing the drug.

For now, many employers appear to be sticking with their drug testing and personal conduct policies, even in states where recreational marijuana use is now permitted.

The ballot question approved by voters November 8 is scheduled to go into effect Thursday, allowing adults to have limited quantities of marijuana for recreational purposes and grow pot plants in their homes.

“The distribution model could also have more direct consequences for health and safety”.

The recommendations were broadly supportive of a commercial free market for recreational marijuana, suggesting the larger market rollout be based on the backbone of the existing licensed cannabis production regulations.

Once Colorado and Washington legalized adult use cannabis in 2012 and the Department of Justice issued the Cole Memo in 2013, the DOJ and FinCEN finally provided some relief for cannabis businesses by developing guidelines for financial institutions wanting to bank the cannabis industry. (A recount of Maine’s close result is scheduled.) More than two dozen states have medical marijuana programs.

As well, there was significant debate on what the minimum age of consumption would be.