By Michael Joel-Hansen

As cannabis becomes legal, rules come into effect

Oct 17, 2018 | 2:34 PM

The use of recreational cannabis is now legal across Canada.

While people looking to buy products from one of Prince Albert’s two licensed cannabis retailers will have to wait, as both are currently not prepared to open their doors, the Government of Saskatchewan and Prince Albert Police Service are reminding people about the rules and regulations.

In a media release sent out by the provincial government, Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan explained the general public needs to understand some realities.

“Our government is committed to public safety, and it’s important for people to understand there are limitations on what is allowed, much the same as is with alcohol consumption,” he said.

The provincial government said some of the regulations include,

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• The minimum age for having and using non-medical cannabis is 19.
• Consuming non-medical cannabis in public is not allowed.
• There is zero tolerance for driving while impaired by cannabis.
• Selling edible cannabis products is illegal, however people are allowed to make their own at home with legally purchased cannabis.
• Fines for provincial cannabis offences range from $200 to $2,500. More serious offences could see corporations or individuals facing fines ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 and up to six months in prison.
• People are allowed to grow up to four plants in their home for their own use.

Sgt. Jesse Barlow with the Prince Albert Police service stressed to paNOW people need to look at smoking cannabis as different from smoking tobacco.

“I think if they get that (tobacco) mindset out of their head and they think about it as alcohol, it’s going to be a lot easier rollout for people to understand,” he said.

Along with wanting to remind people to consider where and when it is appropriate to use, Barlow added it was important to remind the public about other laws which are related.

“Although it’s legal, it’s still not legal for somebody in the province of Saskatchewan under 19 … (to have) any kind of amount on them, for young people it’s going to be exactly the same as alcohol, they just can’t have it,” he said.

For Jamie Novotny, a Prince Albert-based cannabis consultant, the end of prohibition is something he welcomes. But he said there are downsides to the new system.

“I think it’s great that prohibition is over that way, however it’s been recriminalized harsher than it was before,” he said.

Novotny said the new legislation which the federal government passed, created 45 criminal offences related to cannabis which is up from eight which were on the books previously.

Novotny added that with the rollout, which has seen many retailers not open due to lack of supply, one of the main goals of legalization is not being accomplished.

“I see nothing but people going to the black market,” he said.

MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: mjhskcdn