The legalization of marijuana has been a hot topic since Justin Trudeau took office, and liquor stores in BC are among the first to make a big move in potentially distributing the drug.
Private and public liquor stores have united in the proposal for permission to sell non-medical marijuana across the province.
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The B.C Government & Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU) which represents public liquor stores and the B.C Private Liquor Store Association announced their joint partnership to use their existing provincial liquor store distribution and retail system for the sale of marijuana as per Liberal Leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s federal election campaign promise to legalize and regulate the herb.
With nearly 900 private and public liquor stores across the province, the BCGEU and BCPLSA cite their “excellent track record for distributing and retailing alcohol”. They also say using their infrastructure would have less cost and red tape than setting up a whole new and separate system.
“Liquor stores provide the most strictly controlled system for accessing a controlled substance, and are best suited for the retailing of non-medical marijuana. We have an effective warehousing, retail and distribution system in place, there is no need to reinvent the wheel”
The political sentiment is for safe and strictly controlled distribution and sale which the liquor groups point to their track record of socially responsible sales of alcohol including age-checking. BC Liquor stores also won’t be competing with local dispensaries, as the liquor store’s marijuana won’t be medical.
Manitoba may have similar plans in the motion as their Premier has said liquor stores are the only places that the drug should be available for sale in as well.
The BC liquor groups say they have the capacity for British Columbians to purchase recreational marijuana from their stores by Christmas 2016. A Happy Christmas indeed!
Written by: Amar Mirchandani @amarmirch