Article content continued

“We license private establishments to serve alcohol to people. Why would cannabis be any different?”

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, the body responsible for regulating marijuana retailers, will ensure age verification procedures are followed and its enforcement officers will inspect dispensaries.

“The private retail store model would be tightly regulated and strictly enforced, establishing a zero-tolerance approach for any retailer who provides cannabis to anyone under the age of 19 or to anyone who tries to sell cannabis without a licence,” Ministry of Finance spokesperson Scott Blodgett said in an email.

London Coun. Jared Zaifman says he’s received nearly 20 of OPSEU’s form letters from constituents supporting the plan.

“If the city is to opt out of the private stores, I don’t know when, or if, we’d have stores in our community,” he said. “I understand trying to ensure safety in our community, but I don’t think it really achieves that goal.”

London politicians had pushed to get five LCBO-run dispensaries under the old system, Zaifman said, noting the massive demand for recreational pot must be met.

“I think we may actually have a better chance with safety though the private stores, because that means that there’s potentially more stores in the community, more accessibility and more eyes on the product and where it’s going,” he said.

Ian Dawkins, president of the Cannabis Commerce Association of Canada, blasted OPSEU for suggesting the public sector is better suited to sell recreational pot.

“You’re spitting in the face of evidence,” Dawkins said, pointing out that private retailers sell cannabis in the nine U.S. states where the drug is legal for recreational use.

“What we need in the cannabis conversation is more evidence, more good public policy, and more sensible, rational cool-headed decision-making, not more rhetoric and self-interest.”

dcarruthers@postmedia.com

twitter.com/DaleatLFPress