Canada is about to open a Pandora’s box by the name of marijuana, and much like the box of mythical times, this is a box (almost) nobody wants opened, yet certain Liberal-thinking individuals in Ottawa are obstinate and determined to open the box anyway.

There are some who will welcome the legalization of marijuana because it is a drug they enjoy, and will now be able to partake legally.

What has a lot of people worried is, while it will be legal, will those who use pot be responsible? Impaired driving issues enter the picture, much like with alcohol, another drug that is freely and legally available to those who are of age, and as most people know, is accessible by those who are not of age.

Police departments are trying to prepare for the looming legalization date, but as the legislation governing what is or what is not allowed to be done with marijuana has yet to be finalized, the law enforcement agencies have no actual direction or guidelines to tailor their approach to keeping the law in the local communities.

There are “grey areas” of this legislation that promise to bring nothing but headaches to police agencies, such as whether edible products made with marijuana will be legal, and whether private citizens can grow their own marijuana plants.

As Weyburn’s Police Chief Marlo Pritchard pointed out recently to members of city council, if the federal and provincial governments allow citizens to grow their own plants, this will be impossible to enforce. What if someone has five plants? Or 55 plants? Who is going to go door-to-door to enforce this? If someone makes hash brownies and sells them or gives them away, is that drug trafficking?

And how would this impact on the retail outlets which will be springing up to offer weed to the general public?

The question of retail outlets came up before council on Monday, and after some discussion, it was decided that Weyburn will allow up to two outlets, which is the maximum allowed by the provincial government. The outlets will be regulated by the SLGA, the same as alcohol sales are, which raises a logical question.

If private production of alcohol is limited and restricted, with wine-making and beer-making kits allowed but regulated, how could any responsible agency or government allow for private grow ops for marijuana without any enforceable way to control it? The Senate may be able to delay the legalization date, but it seems inevitable at this point. Are we really ready for this? — Greg Nikkel

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