Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government warns legalized recreational marijuana will be a strictly controlled substance — so much so that even homegrown weed may be prohibited. The storefront “dispensaries” — more than 100 of which have popped up on Toronto streets in recent months — are illegal and are not licensed by Ottawa to provide medical marijuana. Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott said the government is “taking a public health approach to the matter of the legalization and regulation of marijuana,” treating it like tobacco. At Queen’s Park, Premier Kathleen Wynne has a dozen provincial departments forging a strategy on the impact of legalized recreational cannabis — examining health effects, road safety, and tax implications. Bell noted Ottawa has until Aug. 24 to address a Federal Court ruling in B.C.

Source: thestar July 04, 2016 21:56 UTC