Chambers of Commerce urge the Ontario Government to prepare for new realm - marijuana

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce is calling on the province to consider a private-sector, licensing-based, and locally-oriented approach to distributing recreational marijuana.

The call is in response to a policy resolution put forth at the OCC’s AGM this past May and the federal government’s commitment to move forward on this file.  

A robust consultative process aimed at developing a regulatory framework for distribution of this product is key, as all involved have a social responsibility to ensure there are no added pressures on community health and safety.  

As such, the OCC encourages policy designed with the following principles in mind: 

1. Eliminating the underground economy
2. Limit points of access
3. Communities must be
4. empowered
5. Invest in addiction prevention and treatment
6. Ensure products are subject to best-practice health regulation

During the summer, a federal task force on Marijuana Legalization and Regulation was struck to help inform the design of a new legislative system.  The task force consulted with Canadians over several months and will be
presenting a report to the federal government in November. 

In a press release on the task force, the Canadian government reiterated its commitment to “introducing legislation on the legalization and strict regulation of marijuana in the spring of 2017.”

Read the full letter

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