Ontario plans to take the lead in selling marijuana in as many as 150 stores run by the province's liquor control board. This after the federal government legalizes its recreational use next summer. Should BC follow suit?
Yes, according to a couple of organizations best suited to implement it. However, Stephanie Smith, president of the BCGEU says unlike Ontario, that would sell marijuana in stores separate from the liquor control board's current outlets, BC would utilize our current liquor distribution system.
"We have an integrated distribution and retail system that has already shown itself to be very adaptable and socially responsible and so we think creating a new system, or a parallel system could cost a great deal of money and cause delays in looking at how we move forward."
A spokesman for the BC Private Liquor Store Association also agrees that BC's liquor distribution system as it stands is the most socially-responsible way to sell recreational marijuana.