The Alberta government has introduced legislation that, if passed, will see private retailers selling cannabis at brick-and-mortar stores and the province conducting online sales starting next July, when the federal government legalizes cannabis for recreational use.
The minimum age for cannabis consumption will be 18 years old.
The provincial government says this hybrid model of sales is a response to the wishes of people who took part in an online consultation and survey.
At a press conference, Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley said her government has been required to make “a major shift” in a short amount of time. She said the Trudeau government has set “an ambitious deadline” for legalizing recreational cannabis.
“At the end of the day, we had to choose between moving forward and anticipating that we’ll be ready or just leaving it to the federal government. We felt it would be better to move forward with a framework that reflects Albertans’ concerns and values,” she said.
Some other highlights of Bill 26, An Act to Control and Regulate Cannabis:
• The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission will obtain and distribute legal cannabis to the private retailers as it now does with alcohol.
• The province has determined that cannabis will not be sold in places that sell tobacco, liquor or pharmaceuticals—but has yet to release details about how the private stores will operate.
• Smoking or vaping cannabis will be banned in the same public places where smoking is currently banned, including bars and restaurants.
• Consumption of cannabis will also be banned on hospital grounds and in places where children gather, including schools, daycares, pools, playgrounds and sports fields.
• The minimum age for consumption will be 18 years old.
• Adults will be allowed to possess 30 grams of cannabis at any given time.
The government has the power to allow cannabis cafes and lounges to exist but there are no plans for that yet.
