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YT Justice Min has Concerns over Marijuana Legislation

Tuesday, 19 September 2017 13:05

Tracey McPhee told Ottawa her issues focused on law enforcement training and home cultivation.

Justice Minister Tracey McPhee says the Yukon still has concerns regarding implementation of federal recreational marijuana legislation, poised to become law next July.

She acknowledged that the hard deadline is a “possible problem” due to these concerns. “There are significant administrative, regulatory, public education issues. Issues around officer training and law enforcement, including some issues around how home cultivation can be dealt with and that they all need to be addressed.”

The territorial government is conducting an online survey until the end of September. The survey seeks input on “topics such as how and where it will be sold, where it can be consumed and how to address impaired driving and workplace safety.” McPhee says this survey has seen the highest number of respondents than any other survey conducted.

While McPhee was at a Justice Ministers conference in Vancouver last week, she told the federal government that implementing recreational marijuana legislation locally, would put undo financial pressure on the Yukon and that she is seeking federal support. “If we were going to meet the deadline of July 2018, then we would need supports from the federal government to manage that transition.” She says Ottawa was receptive to that request.

As to regulations on purchasing, retail sales and price, McPhee says this has not been determined.

(Dan Jones Whitehorse September 19, 2017)

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