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To delay or not to delay on cannabis

Representatives of two standing committees of the Legislative Assembly stopped in Hay River on May 2 to get public input on Bill 6, the Cannabis Legalization and Regulation Implementation Act.

That territorial legislation will set some rules in the NWT for when the federal government proceeds with cannabis legalization, which is set to happen this summer.

Paul Bickford/NNSL photo
Nehendeh MLA Shane Thompson displays educational material at a May 2 public meeting in Hay River on the GNWT's proposed cannabis legislation.

However, Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson, the chair of the Standing Committee on Social Development, said the GNWT won't be ready for legalization and agreed with a call for a year's delay in the federal legislation.

"We're not ready," he said. "Unfortunately, the federal government is the one that's putting us on the spot right now."

Thompson noted legalization might miss its July 1 target and instead might happen in mid-August.

Whenever it happens, the GNWT needs to have legislation in place.

"We're going to make the recommendation that we'd love to see it moved a year, but we're also being prepared that we need to have something in place if we don't," he said. "Because if we don't, the federal government is going to tell us what to do."

Jane Groenewegen, a former MLA for Hay River South and a former minister of Health and Social Services, had suggested the idea of a one year delay, pointing to similar calls from a Senate committee and the Assembly of First Nations.

"All of this I just don't think can be addressed in the next two months," she said.

Groenewegen noted the GNWT, community governments and people of the territory are just not prepared.

"I personally am never going to be ready for this legislation, but understanding that it's probably going to come, could we address some of those issues before it does come into force so it's not just a mess?" she said.

She called on the standing committees to use their voices to call for a delay.

The Standing Committee on Social Development and the Standing Committee on Government Operations are jointly holding public meetings on the territorial legislation.

Along with Thompson, GNWT representatives at the May 2 meeting in Hay River were Dehcho MLA Michael Nadli, Yellowknife Centre MLA Julie Green, Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh MLA Tom Beaulieu and Hay River North MLA R.J. Simpson, the deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Government Operations.

They heard a variety of concerns from 33 community residents, for example about the need for more education, where cannabis will be sold and where marijuana smoking will be permitted.

Thompson noted the Department of Health and Social Services has purchased educational material called the Cannabis Talking Kit, and will be distributing 13,000 copies to households, schools and municipal governments.

The MLA said the GNWT has identified the liquor commission model to sell the product at seven liquor stores in six communities.

"We've heard it very clearly that it's not something that people should be doing," he noted. "They don't want to see it with the liquor stores."

Thompson noted some people would like to see private industry given an opportunity to get involved and get people employed.

Dale Hoose rejected suggestions that legalization will see an increase in the use of marijuana.

"The market is already there. It's already being served," he said. "There's no new customers out there for marijuana. They're just going to change where they get it."

While noting there will not be a great economic growth potential for the NWT, Hoose said legalization will squeeze out back-alley dealers and there will be better quality control.

"As far as the timing of the legislation coming out, you're never going to be ready," he said. "You can debate this for 20 years and you're never going to have everybody on board."

Simpson believes legalization will be pushed through this summer by the federal government.

"It's going to happen," said the MLA.

"We're going to figure it out as we go along, I guess," he added.

The GNWT legislation deals with such things as where marijuana can be smoked.

Simpson noted he has talked to people who smoke marijuana about that issue.

"And even they are of the opinion that maybe it's not the best idea to walk down a residential street and be able to smoke a joint when there's kids playing in a yard, but right now that's what the law proposes," he said. "It says that you can't smoke in a handful of places – school grounds, health centres or hospitals, bus shelters and then private or public buildings."

Simpson added that nothing is going to be acceptable to everyone.

The GNWT legislation will also set rules for cannabis control, including for use, sale, transportation, and where it can be sold.

"It's important to keep in mind that neither the committees nor the government can overrule the federal legislation," said Simpson. "We can't make laws that will frustrate the federal law. So cannabis will be legal."