Many concerns over the pending legalization of recreational cannabis use remain unresolved, area MP Earl Dreeshen said during a town hall meeting in Eagle Hill on Feb. 20.
Responding to comments by Mountain View County reeve Bruce Beattie, Dreeshen said he has numerous concerns, including around drug-impaired driving.
"The police aren’t ready for it,” said Dreeshen, the Conservative MP for Red Deer-Mountain View. "The municipalities aren’t ready for it. The costs that are going to be associated with it are all going to be downloaded to the local municipalities. Those are concerns that people have.”
Beattie told the town hall that the municipality has already raised questions regarding the pending legalization.
"One of the areas I’m concerned about is Health Canada and the apparent lack of their concern, their lack of ability to communicate and some of the regulations they have around some of the new rules about cannabis,” said Beattie.
"We’ve had some issues in the county and trying to deal with Health Canada is a very difficult process and it’s also very difficult to understand some of their cannabis regulations.”
"That’s certainly one area I’m looking for the federal government to deal with and get some more clarity on.”
Although an exact date for the legalization of recreational cannabis use has not been set, it has been widely reported that it could come this summer.
Earl DreeshenRed Deer-Mountain View MP
"The costs that are going to be associated with it are all going to be downloaded to the local municipalities."
