Kamloops MP raises concerns after date set for pot legalization

Jun 20, 2018 | 2:17 PM

KAMLOOPS — There’s a haze in the air now that Canada has officially set October 17 as the date marijuana will be legal for Canadians to buy and consume.

For starters, Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo Conservative MP Cathy McLeod says the date poses an enormous shift for municipalities who will be tasked with dealing with the change along with the RCMP.

“I think it’s fair to say that with legalization there’s going to be increased impairment on the roads. My understanding is the RCMP don’t have all the equipment yet, they haven’t had all the training yet. And there’s no valid test to really determine impairment in terms of marijuana.”

McLeod also has concerns regarding the effect legalizing the drug will have on young people.

“The science is quite definitive and the Canadian Medical Association has suggested that until the age of 25 the impact in terms of brain development is particularly significant. The government chose the age of 18. We know some of the research is becoming more and more compelling around the link with mental health illness.”

McLeod adds First Nations communities weren’t properly consulted on the issue either.

“They (Ottawa) gave money to provinces and the territories in terms of dealing with impact, dealing with addiction, dealing with education. Nothing for First Nations communities.”

Canada will be the first industrialized country to legalize recreational marijuana nationwide.