Pot plan needed now: Mayor Dennis O'Keefe wants strategy ahead of legal changes

St. John's city council wants more control over the sale of marijuana inside city limits and says rules have to be nailed down before pot becomes legal in July 2018.

"We need to sit down with the province ... we need them to recognize we have no legislative authority to regulate eitherthe production, the distribution, the sale or the useof marijuana," Mayor Dennis O'Keefe told the St. John's Morning Show on Wednesday.

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O'Keefehas asked for a meeting with Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Justice and Public Safety, Andrew Parsons.

"Right now the only thing we have in our control is our zoning bylaws,"O'Keefesaid, meaning the city can only determine where a marijuana retail store could be located. "We need more than that."

The Trudeau government has said it will end the prohibition on pot on Canada Day of next year, allowing consumers to grow up to four plants at home or buy from a licensed dealer.

Parsons said in March that he and other provincial justice ministers are taking a "wait and see" approach to a measure that is driven by Ottawa.

But O'Keefe said provinces and cities have to be ready becausea year can go by quickly.

The mayor said the province canamendthe City of St. John's Act togive it more authority, or create new legislation. Or it could introduce policies and proceduresspecifying theauthoritytowns will have when it comes to pot distribution.

"We really don't know what they have in mind and how the regulation is going to take place," he said.

"It's absolutely crucial andnecessarythat this be hammered down and in place prior to July. Idon't mean the end of June2018. This has got to be in place prior to thelegislationbecoming active."