Saskatchewan cities, towns and villages are hoping the province clears the smoke surrounding its marijuana legislation in time for the July 1 deadline.
The province has undergone a consultation process and did an online survey to help shape the framework of their legislation, but there is no timetable on when it will be tabled.
Gordon Barnhart is the president of Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association. He said the province has to set the rules for the legal age of usage, where it can be sold and how it can be produced.
“Once that has all been passed, the municipalities – not just the cities, but the urban centres – generally across the board are going to need to have bylaws in place for specifying where the outlets can be for production,” Barnhart said.
Barnhart applauded the government for doing the consultation, but admitted SUMA was getting anxious with how the deadline has been slowly sneaking up on them. He said the municipalities will be the front-line when pot becomes legalized.
“It’s where the rubber’s going to hit the road so we’re just concerned that we be ready, that we be well-prepared for this major change.”
Barnhart noted other provinces have begun to roll out their plans for the rules around pot.
“I don’t know that any province is completely ready yet, but certainly many of them seem to be fairly well advanced.”
Barnhart said pushing the July 1 deadline back would give all governments time to get the rules planned and laid out, but added it doesn’t appear Ottawa has any plans to do that.