Nova Scotia’s justice minister says recreational cannabis to be sold at approved NSLC stores will be restricted to certain products.
But Mark Furey says that could change.
Recreational marijuana in Canada is on track to be legalized in July.
The province has approved nine Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation outlets to sell cannabis in-store, with online sales also available.
The NSLC store in Yarmouth is one of the nine.
Furey says edible marijuana products won’t be legal come July.
“Although the federal government has indicated there will be an edible stream in the next year. But the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission [sic] has to follow the federal regulations and the products that would be available would be both dried and fresh cannabis, cannabis oil as well as seeds.”
Furey doesn’t think plants or seedlings will be made available at the nine approved NSLC stores, at least not right away.
He also says there has been no discussion about the sale of paraphernalia likes pipes or bongs, although he says rolling papers could be considered at some point.
Furey says the government doesn’t expect to put the illegal drug seller out of business on July 1.
“We are not going to flip the switch on July the first and the illegal market go away and the legal market be established.
He says the government’s first priority is the health and safety of Nova Scotians, particularly the youth.
Secondly, is a transition from the illicit, illegal market to one of a legal recreational market, which he says will take time.
Furey has said they are looking at a price of around $10 a gram.
Late last year Canada’s finance ministers agreed they wanted to set a price that would deter people from buying marijuana from the illicit market.
The full interview with Mark Furey can be heard on the Weekender this Sunday morning at 9:04 on Y95 CJLS.
