After decades of activism, protests, lobbying and legislating, the day has finally come when cannabis is legal in Canada. But for those who are planning to light up in celebration at 4:20 p.m. Wednesday, we have to ask you: Where did you get your stuff?
Because none of the three North Shore municipalities currently has a legal regime in place to allow storefront sales.
If you want to partake right away, you’re going to have to drive to Kamloops where the only cannabis store in B.C. to have jumped through all the regulatory hoops on time – a government outlet – is opening.
The City of North Vancouver has capped the number of pot shops it will allow at six but a number of illegal pot dispensaries that have been flouting the law for years still operate. If they want to be considered for a licence, they must shut down in the interim.
The District of North Vancouver has wrapped public consultations but has yet to draw up any pot bylaws for the new council to consider.
In typical fashion, the District of West Vancouver has yet to start consulting the public on where and how residents can purchase a dime bag.
We’re curious to see how the market evolves. Will previous non-users take up the hobby? Will the black market be edged out or will it simply adapt? How will our police and courts deal with potential new impaired driving cases? Then there is the social etiquette that governs how we cope politely with others’ now legal right to pot smoke. Even though there is still a lot of haze left to clear, it’s a day we’re glad to see come. Criminal prohibition of pot was entirely too harsh a response to such a mellow issue of public concern.
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