No plans to study marijuana sales in Manitoba, PCs say

The Progressive Conservative government says it doesn't planto carry through with a study on the legalization of marijuana and how it might be sold in Manitoba.

The previous NDP government directed Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries to study the issue and whether the Crown Corporation could or should be in charge of retailing the drug.

Staff with Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries travelled to Coloradoon a fact-finding mission earlier this year. The sale of marijuana is legal in the U.S. state.

The Tories say there is no point in researching how marijuana will be sold until the federal government changes laws governing pot.

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"We are not prepared to spend a lot of time or money on an issue when we don't know what's coming," saidCrown Services Minister RonSchuler.

The legislative committee responsible for Crown Services heard Wednesday, little has been done by the province or Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries to prepare for legalization.

NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine repeatedly pressed Schuler for what the government of Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries has done to research the issue or canvas Manitobans on legalizing pot.

"We cannot shadow box on this...we don't know what form it will come in," saidSchuler.