Should provincial liquor stores serve as neighbourhood pot dealers? (Toronto Star)

[inanna]

Published on Tue Dec 15 2015

MONTREAL—It’s still a long way off, but the federal government’s promise to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Canada has sparked a torrid debate about how and where to sell it.

Convenience stores across the country already sell government-regulated lottery tickets, cigarettes and, in some provinces, beer and wine. But since the end of alcohol prohibition laws in the 1920s, liquor stores have been that clear, well-lighted place Canadians have come to rely on for their purchases of alcohol.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Manitoba Premier Greg Sellinger and the unions representing the LCBO and Quebec’s Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) are all now advocating that provincially run liquor stores be allowed to expand their mandates and inventory to include the many strains and vintages of marijuana.

On Tuesday, federal Health Minister Jane Philpott applauded Queen’s Park for getting involved in the debate, even if it will be some time before a bag of weed can be purchased alongside a bottle of wine.

Link: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/12/15/should-provincial-liquor-stores-serve-as-neighbourhood-pot-dealers.html

[Locrian]

1. I read somewhere

that Starbucks was trying to figure out how to sell alcohol - probably 'craft' type beers and / or wine?

Reason I bring this up is that I think it's a test run - that what they really are gearing up for is when pot becomes legal in the US. What better place (if you like SB's) to get your weed in terms of "safe", "well established", "low stigma", "store on every corner" than "Weed-Bucks"?

[Joe Shlabotnik]

2. No.

Wynne sees a windfall; I don't blame her, but no. I'm still predicting that its going to end up being over taxed and over priced, shit quality weed at 'select' locations, during inconvenient hours of business. A couple of well connected political cronies will enrich themselves investing in factory farms. The price will be so high that it'll become the new contraband cigarette, therefore not eliminating the organized crime. And it'll probably still remain illegal to grow your own for yourself.

I hope I'm wrong, but Liberals have a way of doing this type of stuff.

[Spazito]

3. The problem with this is not every province has provincially run liquor stores...

Alberta's are all privately owned and I think BC is a mix and match. The idea, itself, is a good one but because it would not be the same for every province, it could result in a more expensive solution than the federal government setting up something that correlates with all provinces and territories, imo.

[marble falls]

4. Yes, as well as other venders should be allowed to dispense pot.