New Brunswick's select committee on cannabis released its final report on Friday, although committee members do not make any specific recommendations to government.

The report does contain several recommendations made in June by a separate working group, consisting of senior officials from three departments and two Crown corporations.

Chairman Benoît Bourque says the committee's mandate was to consult with New Brunswickers about recreational marijuana and summarize the feedback for government.

"The committee didn't have the power of recommendation," Bourque said during a Friday morning news conference in Fredericton

Bourque said the recommendations made by the working group were used as a discussion guide during public consultations.

The working group recommended that the legal age to buy and use cannabis be set at 19 and that it be sold through a Crown corporation in government-operated stores.

Bourque said a "clear majority" of people who spoke at the public hearings supported a minimum legal age of 19, which is consistent with the legal age for alcohol and tobacco.

"Obviously it was not unanimous, there were some other organizations that would prefer that it would be of a higher age," said Bourque. "But I would say if you look at the statistics, I would say a clear majority did support the minimum legal age of 19."

Bourque said a majority of participants also supported the recommendation that marijuana be sold in government-operated stores.

Over 70 presenters appeared before the committee during its public consultations, and more than 40 others sent in written submissions.

Bourque said many presenters also expressed concern about medical cannabis, edibles and industrial hemp, which did not fall under the purview of the committee.

According the report, most people agreed with keeping cannabis out of the hands of youth, shutting out organized crime, investing in education, addressing health concerns and ensuring public safety.

Bourque says the report — including the recommendations – will be considered by the province as it shapes regulations around recreational marijuana.

"The idea is to have tabled legislation, starting this fall, so that we will be as ready as possible for July 2018," said Bourque, referring to the date by which recreational cannabis is expected to be legalized in Canada.