Statistics Canada, SPS look back at the first year of legalization

Statistics Canada released its one-year report on pot sales and people in Saskatchewan aren’t doling out major dollars like their provincial neighbours.

Nearly $908 million was spent at the more than 400 brick and mortar pot shops operating in the country during the first year of legalization.

In Saskatchewan, roughly $38 million was spent on cannabis in the province between October 2018 and September 2019.

By comparison, Alberta spent $195 million and $56 million was spent in Manitoba during that same time frame.

Saskatchewan residents spent $32 per person on cannabis, Alberta residents spent $45 per person and Manitoba spent $41 per person, according to the report from Statistics Canada.

Yukon was highest on the list, spending $105 per person on non-medical cannabis. Residents in British Columbia spent just $10 per person, the lowest per capita in the country.

In terms off access, the report shows that nearly half of Saskatchewan residents live within 10 kilometres of the 35 stores that have been operating in the province as of July.

Police report fewer offences than originally expected

A report prepared for the Saskatoon’s Board of Police Commissioner meeting on Thursday showed how the first year of legalization affected enforcement in Saskatoon.

“Since cannabis legalization on Oct. 17, 2018 the Saskatoon Police Service has experienced fewer issues than were expected based on our research,” the report said. “This can be attributed to our preparation, using appropriate investigative approaches when required, public outreach, and the efforts of government to provide a safe transition to legalization.”

Police laid 206 total cannabis-related charges between Oct. 17, 2018 and Oct. 17 of this year.

Of the charges, 187 were charged under the Cannabis Control (Saskatchewan) Act, eight were cannabis-related impaired driving charges and 11 were charged under the federal Cannabis Act. Offences under that act differ from provincial charges.

The report stated one of the largest investigations was a guns and gangs unit investigation which seized 3.45 kilograms of cannabis and 960 grams of shatter, a concentrated cannabis resin.

Of the charges under provincial legislation, the largest investigation was against an unlicensed outlet that has since shut down, according to the report.

The Saskatoon Cannabis Clinic was raided four times, accounting for 305 hours of time spent.

“This investigation was significant in that it was the first of its kind using the Cannabis Control (Saskatchewan) Act,” the report said.

Nine roadside suspensions were issued after drivers tested positive for THC, the active chemical in cannabis.

Those suspensions all took place after July, when police began using the Draeger 5000 Roadside Screening Device.

Training costs accounted for $138,849 in 2019. All of the costs were funded through existing budgets.