The Nova Scotia government agrees with Ottawa's plans to legalize marijuana, but it has concerns about how pot will be sold and to whom.

Justice Minister Diana Whalen said the province has named two bureaucrats to take part in round-table discussions aimed at grappling with those issues, as the federal Liberals work to draft a bill to be introduced in about a year's time.

"I think our main concerns are around the health issue and the impact on young people particularly," said Whalen.

"There's evidence about how it affects young people whose brains are still developing and growing and I think we'll have to work very much with the evidence that we have and with our partners in health to see how best to go forward."

She said she believes legalization is "the right thing to do," it's just a matter of how it's done.

There are also concerns, she said, about drivers being under the influence of marijuana and what issues that raises for police and road safety.

As for whether pot will be sold in liquor stores or through private distributors, Whalen says the province hasn't yet taken a position.