Province rolling out pot plan sometime in next few weeks

The Newfoundland and Labradorgovernment will be revealing its pot legalization planin the next few weeks, says Minister ofJustice and Public Safety Andrew Parsons.

"Certainly before this fall sitting of the House of Assembly adjourns in December," he said.

That happens on Dec. 7.

Falling behind?

The federal government is aiming for marijuana legalization across the country next Julyand each province is responsible for its own implementation plan. So far, provinces like Alberta, Quebec and Ontario have all rolled out strategies.

• Government still can't say when legal pot goes on sale in Canada

Last week's announcement from Manitoba detailing plans for private retail with provincially-controlled distribution sparked questions from the Opposition Wednesday in the House of Assembly.

Parsons said there's been a steering committee within government working on a plan for almost a year.

Plenty of feedback

In June, government launched a website and public consultation campaign asking people what they wanted and didn't want from provincially-regulated legal marijuana.

Almost 2,600 people went online to answer the survey, making it one of the most popular public surveys the province has ever conducted.

"The fact is our government will be ready. We were the second province tocome out with an online consultation with the public, one of the greatest attended consultations this province has seen," Parsons said.

"Some provinces haven't even done a consultation yet."

The committee has been using that feedback, in part, to draft its pot policies, said Parsons.

Plenty of revenue, plenty of costs

People hopingrevenue from legal marijuana will see a good portion of the deficit go up in smoke need to chill, said Parsons.

"There's also a safety side and a social consciousness that we need to have so there will be significant costs borne when it comes to safety, when it comes to education, when it comes to health, when it comes to addictions," he said.

He said government looks forward to announcing the plan, which will cover "all angles of the cannabis legalization."