Liberal government task force discussing logistics of legal marijuana

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Canadians as young as 18 should be able to legally buy and smoke pot. That’s what a federal task force looking at how the Liberal government can legalize marijuana suggests. It is just one of over 80 recommendations released today.

The Liberal government is one step closer to legalizing cannabis. The federally appointed task force released a 106 page report that also recommends not selling alcohol and pot at the same location. Instead, having dedicated storefronts and direct mail service. It suggests banning any products or packaging that would be appealing to children and limit public possession to 30 grams of dried marijuana.

If adopted, Canadians as young as 18 could buy recreational marijuana and that has garnered some mixed reviews. The report acknowledges police officers will have a difficult time detecting impaired drivers but most experts agreed on setting a THC blood limit similar to alcohol. One of the biggest worries is people getting behind the wheel when under the influence of marijuana and the report doesn’t mention a limit to consumption.

The Canadian Medical Association raised concerns over the effects of marijuana on the developing brains of teens and young adults. It says more research needs to be done to better understand the short and long-term effects.

The Ontario government says the protection of young people and focusing on prevention and harm reduction is its priority. Earlier this year the Federal Government promised it would introduce marijuana legislation by spring 2017.

Currently medicinal use, not recreational use, of marijuana is legal in Canada.