Feds say there will be enough pot once legalized
Posted October 10, 2018 1:08 pm.
Last Updated October 10, 2018 1:29 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – The federal government is assuring Canadians there will be enough pot to go around when sales of recreational cannabis become legal one week from today, Oct. 17.
A spokesperson for the federal health minister is dismissing concerns that there could be a shortage of marijuana. They says the ministry is well-positioned to supply product with 120 licensed producers operating.
Health Canada estimates in the first year, the market will need 926,000 kilograms of cannabis, though there is some worry there will not be enough.
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Bill Blair, minister for organized crime reduction, says next week Canadians will see a highly-regulated system that will help battle the black market.
“It’s 100 per cent controlled by illicit organizations, organized crime and criminal enterprise, and we’re trying to take that market and profit away from it,” he says.
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He adds the government is “regulating the daylights” out of marijuana. Now it will be “in a strictly controlled environment with health warnings, and potency information so people can make make informed choice.”
He also adds that he believes police are going to be able to deal with legalization and impaired driving.
