MP Wayne Stetski will host a telephonic town hall next week for residents to let him know their views on marijuana legalization.
“The legalization of marijuana will have impacts on health, the economy, law enforcement and for municipalities,” the New Democratic MP said in a statement Monday, March 6. “This is a significant issue for Kootenay-Columbia, and I want to hear what people in the region are thinking as the government moves closer to introducing legislation.”
The telephonic town hall will be held on Tuesday, March 14, at 6:30 pm 7:30 MT). Residents with a listed phone number will receive a phone call from an automatic system to invite them to join the call. Those with unlisted phone numbers that would nonetheless like to participate can register at WayneStetski.ndp.ca
In addition to being able to ask questions or offer comments, participants will hear from four area experts, including Nelson Mayor Deb Kozak; Tamara Duggan, owner of Tamarack Dispensaries in Kimberley; Dean Nicholson, executive director of East Kootenay Addiction Services Society in Cranbrook; and a representative of the RCMP.
The Trudeau government is expected to introduce legislation legalizing marijuana this spring. A recent federal task force on the issue made a number of recommendations, including the establishment of a minimum age of access and restrictions on advertising and promotion; regulated production, manufacturing and distribution; and safeguards, such as testing, packaging and labelling.
Stetski is encouraging anyone interested to read the task force’s recommendations which can be found here.
“We will have to see whether the government follows its own task force’s recommendations when they introduce the new laws,” he said. “As the person who will be voting on those laws on your behalf, I want to know what you think about the issue.”
