Canadian Officials Want Cannabis Sold Through Liquor Stores

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As Canada’s new government struggles with how to implement marijuana legalization, at least a few public figures are urging officials to allow sales through the country’s tightly controlled liquor stores.

In the central Canadian province of Manitoba, the Liquor & Gaming Authority expects to serve as a marijuana regulator and is now preparing for that role, according to the Winnipeg Free Press.

In a Monday speech, Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger said the liquor authority “will be well positioned to regulate the sale and distribution of marijuana in a safe and socially responsible manner.”

The head of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), which represents workers at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, agreed, telling Yahoo Canada News that state-run liquor stores are the ideal outlets to sell marijuana. The main reasons: Workers with the agency are already trained in dealing with customers who purchase regulated substances, and store and warehouse security is already in place.

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne also recently told the Globe and Mail that she gets emails from constituents telling her marijuana should be told through state liquor stores.

Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau instructed his justice minister to work with public safety and health officials to start developing plans on how to regulate marijuana legalization.