Yukon gov’t. endorses marijuana legalization
The Yukon government supports Ottawa’s proposed federal marijuana legalization and regulation.
The Yukon government supports Ottawa’s proposed federal marijuana legalization and regulation.
The proposed legislation to legalize cannabis was tabled last Thursday in the House of Commons, just before the Easter long weekend began.
The territorial government said in a statement that day it will take the time to carefully review the various bills and begin the process of legalization.
“Protecting the safety of Yukoners is our top priority when it comes to the legalization of cannabis,” said Justice Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee.
“We will work closely with the other provinces and territories to develop a Canada-wide regime.
“Our collective goal is to ensure a safe, legal supply of cannabis while keeping it out of the hands of children and the profits out of the hands of criminals.”
In preparation for the legalization of marijuana use by summer 2018, the Yukon government has established a working group.
Its mandate is to have a multi-departmental approach to ensure the government provides an integrated response to the issues raised by the legalization, regulation and restriction of the drug.
A sub-committee will be concentrating its efforts on developing a government-wide public education strategy.
“Our objective is to protect the well-being of Yukoners by ensuring cannabis products are regulated and lab-tested so they are safe to consume and free of harmful contaminants,” said Health and Social Services Minister Pauline Frost.
“Also, with future users in mind, we will be developing a specific public education strategy that will inform youth about the health risks of cannabis.”
The federal legislation proposes a national minimum age of purchase of 18, while permitting the territories and provinces to harmonize it with their minimum age for buying alcohol.
Canadians would have a maximum amount of marijuana they’d be legally allowed to purchase and would be able to grow up to four marijuana plants per household.
The current restrictions on public smoking of tobacco would extend to the smoking of marijuana.
Plain packaging would be required, and the legislation prohibits any product deemed to be “appealing to children and youth.”
Comments (14)
Up 19 Down 0
@Foodforthought on Apr 21, 2017 at 9:00 am
@Food for thought: As a landlord just like smoking cigarettes you can add a clause that says no smoking marijuana in your unit.
Up 8 Down 4
Sandy Jamesen on Apr 20, 2017 at 8:58 pm
Send your people down here to Colorado where we have medical and recreation sales to learn how to implement the process. And the tax dollars are nice too!
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ProScience Greenie on Apr 20, 2017 at 6:30 pm
Err, sorry Lost in the Yukon but employers have been having to deal with employees that appear high for a few decades now. Can't see how anything will change. Show up sober and rested and ready to work is all that an employer has a right to ask for. What a person does on their own time is their own business. Liberty is a good thing and we need more of it. Not the end of the world. Happy 420 Lost in the Yukon.
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Anie on Apr 20, 2017 at 5:43 pm
Regular Joe, what have you been smoking? Alaska voted 2 years ago to legalize pot, and then responsibly took those two years to develop regulations and processes. Those regs are only now coming into effect. Pot is just now becoming legal. So everything you said about the effects of legal pot in Alaska is just a bunch of hogwash. We don't know the effects yet. Maybe you will be proven right but perhaps you could wait until you have some facts before making them up.
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Lost in the Yukon on Apr 20, 2017 at 3:54 pm
Dearest Pro Science Greenie - don't like, won't use it -- and just like with cigarettes don't smoke it around me. Employers will now be faced with figuring out how to deal with employees who appear high and law enforcement dealing with underage pot smokers .. The nightmare is about to begin.
Up 24 Down 6
Regular Joe on Apr 19, 2017 at 1:47 pm
There is no valid reason why cannabis should be illegal. It is an old idea that old people hold very dearly. It represents an era that is slowly but surely dying. We are in the age of information and most people know that cannabis is way less harmful than alcohol or prescription opioid drugs . Places like Colorado and Alaska haven't fell into anarchy. In fact it is quite the opposite. The tax money is taken back to the community, the car accident numbers have gone down, prescription for opioid drugs have lowered dramatically, real estate prices have gone up and many more positive effects are happening.
Finally, don't smoke weed, vaporize it.
Up 19 Down 30
Food for thought... on Apr 19, 2017 at 10:48 am
Ah the potheads are out in force.
Frankly they cannot put enough regulations in place. I for one want to see protection for landlords so that their units are not havens for pot smokers who will make the units unrentable. I for one want to see the rights of those that are not potheads protected so we don't have to put up with the affects of your habit. Some of you are going to be in for a shock when you go to sell your homes and find that buyers will avoid your place like the plague because of the stench and damage done. Same goes for vehicles.
Of course only a ninny government would think this is a good idea. Give the masses what they want. Oh you might also be in for a surprise when entering some foreign countries at the their customs and immigration.
Up 22 Down 12
ProScience Greenie on Apr 19, 2017 at 10:12 am
Lots of voters on the right smoke weed jc. Most that enjoy a wee puff have jobs, pay taxes, vote, raise good families and are fine friends, neighbors and relatives. Not sure what you mean by 'what will come eventually'? Nothing will really change except a bad law taken off the books. Similar to getting rid of the stupid and useless LGR IMHO. Every move that gets rid of bubble wrap and the nanny state is a good move no matter what political party is in doing it.
Maybe during the last election the CPC should have endorsed some kind of legalization policy similar to our neighbors in Alaska. If they had of done that they would have taken some of the wind out of the Liberals sails and would have had a very good chance of remaining in power. Conservatives in this country need to start acting on their small-l libertarian streak instead of just yapping about it. We need less government in our private lives, not more.
Up 32 Down 8
Tom Stevens on Apr 18, 2017 at 12:45 pm
Interesting to see how the local dealers who have had it pretty good for a long time are going to fare when they are pushed out of business. The Government is going to come with a much bigger hammer if you try and take away the tax proceeds coming. Guess it is back to living off your real jobs.
Up 31 Down 3
Jeff Small on Apr 18, 2017 at 7:34 am
I wonder how Alaska got their law enacted so quickly and what those regulations are? Surely they're concerns would be similar to ours. Good luck with keeping profits out of the hands of the gangs who say they will beat the regulated stuff on both price and quality. Judging from how long bureaucracy takes I believe them. School kids will also find availability where they want to just as they have for decades. It's not going to suddenly change because the Government decrees it so.
Up 32 Down 31
jc on Apr 17, 2017 at 9:32 pm
These leftist fools have no idea what they are doing. I just hope they will be ready to take the blame for what will come eventually. But, of course they will think of some way to pass the blame on to the Conservatives
Up 17 Down 21
Stella on Apr 17, 2017 at 9:08 pm
So the federal Libs make a grand promise of legalization then flub it off on the provinces and territories. Along with their draconian driving laws they are implementing alongside this is yet another big disappointment.
Up 26 Down 12
ProScience Greenie on Apr 17, 2017 at 4:20 pm
Note to Yukon Libs: don't over-regulate and over-tax please. Where you can, follow Alaska's more simple legislation rather than what Ottawa wants.
Up 36 Down 22
ProScience Greenie on Apr 17, 2017 at 4:17 pm
Good news that this mostly harmless plant is finally going to be legal.
For those that don't like marijuana, don't use it.