THUNDER BAY – Former Toronto police chief Bill Blair says the country’s prohibition of marijuana isn’t working, especially when it comes to keeping it out of the hands of youth.
Blair, the Liberal MP for Scarborough Southwest and parliamentary secretary to both the ministers of health and justice, has heard from many teenagers that it’s easier for them to buy pot than alcohol. The incoming legalization of cannabis expected to take place this summer will make it more difficult for young people to access, Blair says.
“It’s a far more effective way to control cannabis,” Blair said.
“The current system has not been successful at protecting our kids. We have the highest rates of cannabis among our kids of any country in the world and the business of cannabis production and distribution is 100 per cent controlled by criminals who are making millions of dollars in illicit profit from that criminal enterprise.”
About 50 people attended a townhall meeting hosted by Blair, along with Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Don Rusnak and Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Patty Hajdu, at the Oliver Road Community Centre on Thursday evening.
Blair, who Rusnak called the government's "point man" on cannabis, described the legalization as lifting the prohibition to introduce a series of regulations to control its production, distribution and consumption.
“This is a very significant change in the way cannabis is being controlled in this country,” Blair said. “We believe we’re bringing in a very effective and comprehensive system of control. People have to understand and be comfortable with how it’s going to work so I want to hear their questions and answer them as best I can.”
While Ottawa has led efforts to legalize marijuana, it has tasked provinces and territories with establishing retail and distribution infrastructure along with drafting their own regulations.
Ontario is one of eight provinces that has set the legal age to purchase and possess marijuana at 19. Two other provinces have set the age at 18. Blair said selling marijuana to children will be designated as a new offence.
“We don’t want kids to use this drug,” Blair said.
The federal government’s legislation to legalize marijuana – Bill C-45 – is currently making its way through the Senate. Blair said the Senate has indicated it will vote on the bill on June 7, potentially paving the way for it to be approved before the House of Commons breaks for the summer.
The July 1 implementation date that has been widely reported will not happen, especially after Health Canada along with the provinces and territories have asked for up to three months after the bill receives Royal Assent to prepare.
“Canada Day was never going to be cannabis day,” Blair said.
Nipigon mayor Richard Harvey said municipalities, especially ones that won’t have a retail outlet, want to know they will have financial support to help with the costs of legalization.
“A lot of the social costs, a lot of the fiscal costs of dealing with social issues that may come up as a result of this aren’t necessarily going to fall on the federal and provincial government,” Harvey said. “It’s going to fall on our local municipalities and we’re really unsure about what additional finances are going to be there to help us address these issues.”
Blair acknowledged many of the costs are borne by communities and said that’s why the federal government reduced its share of the tax revenue.
“Instead of taking 50 cents on the dollar, we said 25 but we made it really clear that we need to see that money reinvested back into municipalities because that’s where the costs are,” Blair said, adding Ontario has already pledged $40 million to local governments.
