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“I think, in life — cash is king,” he said, musing upon his paper fortune while driving his current car, a mid-sized Mercedes SUV, in the Ottawa area. “Until the money is actually in the bank, you try and put it out of your mind.”

It is not always easy, especially when the federal Conservatives keep reminding you about it. Mr. Rifici, see, is into weed and politics: He moonlights — on a voluntary basis — as the CFO of the Liberal Party of Canada. He was appointed to the position by former interim party leader Bob Rae and has remained in it under the legalize-it-or-bust reign of Justin Trudeau.

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Steven Blaney, the Minister of Public Safety, has been outspokenly critical of the relationship. Jason Tamming, a spokesman for the minister, articulated Mr. Blaney’s concerns in an interview this week.

“Justin Trudeau’s signature policy is to legalize the sale of marijuana, which would make it easier for our children to smoke,” he said. “Trudeau has made it clear that his vision of legalization would make smoking marijuana a normal, everyday activity. Of course legalization would benefit Mr. Trudeau’s close millionaire friends that are marketing marijuana to Canadians.”

Mr. Rifici knows the criticism. But, he says, he does not know Justin Trudeau. The closest he has ever come to having a one-on-one conversation with the Liberal leader is shaking his hand at this or that Liberal function, amid a cast of many. Personally, he is a beer drinker. Philosophically, when it comes to pot on the societal level — for mass, not medical, use — he is a libertarian. His view: Let people do what they want. And, if the government wants a piece of the action, let them tax and regulate it. Professionally, he is a business guy, specializing in start-ups, and always looking for the next big thing.