Legalization of cannabis: the cities will need more resources, admits Blair

LAURENCE HOUDE-ROY/24 HOURS/QMI AGENCY
The federal mp responsible for the legalization of marijuana, Bill Blair, was accompanied by Joël Lightbound, parliamentary secretary to the federal minister of health in Montreal, to meet with elected officials in montreal.

Laurence Houde-Roy

Monday, 28 August, 2017 22:20

UPDATE
Monday, 28 August, 2017 22:27

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The head of the legalization of cannabis to the federal government, Bill Blair, is aware that the municipalities, including Montreal, will have an important role to play in the new law and that they will need more resources.

The former chief of police of the City of Toronto, now liberal mp, made the remarks at the exit of a private meeting Monday with elected officials at montreal, where he has taken knowledge of their issues and concerns around the legalization of cannabis.

“The municipalities will have an important role to play and there will be a cost associated with it, I am aware of it, admitted Mr. Blair in an interview with the “24 Hours”. We must ensure that those who we ask to do this important work have the resources and training necessary to do so.”

Reference to the provinces

Mr Blair admits, however, that the federal government will not be able to provide them directly to these resources. In most cases, this will have to be discussions that should take place between the cities and the provinces, which will be responsible for enforcing the federal law on their territory.

The redistribution of the money generated by the sale of cannabis will also be discussed between the provincial and the municipalities. The mayor of Montreal had already stated that he wishes to obtain a portion of these revenues.

“These are discussions that must take place between the cities and the provinces. We can, however, provide police training and equipment,” added the elected federal.

For its part, the federal spending federal taxes that will be generated by the sale of marijuana in the research, treatment and education around drugs.

Bill Blair states that the cities will clearly have the authority to determine the zoning, and the places where will be allowed the use of cannabis, just as is the case for tobacco.

Concerns

The head of the public safety committee to the executive committee of the City of Montreal, Anie Samson, who was present at the meeting Monday afternoon, refused to comment on this discussion with the elected federal.

However, it was possible to know that elected officials have also discussed the owners of the accommodation concerned about the fact that it will be possible to grow cannabis in their buildings.

“There’s a concern,” admitted Blair. So, you want to listen to the cities and work with them to be certain that our law works. One must understand what they need to do what they are asked to do.”

Bill Blair, accompanied by Joël Lightbound, parliamentary secretary to the federal minister of Health, will meet Tuesday, various organizations who will be affected by the future federal law, including the Corporation of the real estate owners in Quebec, the public health Association of Quebec, the Union of municipalities and the Association des médecins psychiatres.