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“Not everyone is going to agree, but I think it’s really important that we do engage (with Albertans) because I know lots of families are concerned about safety on (marijuana).”

Alberta Liberal Leader Dr. David Swann made his party’s recommendation of a minimum age of 21 years old, calling it a compromise between the task force’s findings and medical research on marijuana use and the developing brain.

“We’re not just going to dive in without thought and understanding the implications of this,” Swann said.

“It’s uncharted waters for us here. We’ve had a very prohibitionist approach to (marijuana), and that culture now has to change.”

Notley has concerns that setting the minimum age higher than 18 could lead young Albertans to try to purchase marijuana illegally, creating a new black market.

Calgary Coun. Ward Sutherland, who sits on the city of Calgary’s Police Commission, said a black market for marijuana will always exist, but concerns with youth health and impaired driving trump those surrounding underage bootlegging.

“It’s going to happen just like alcohol, we’re naive to think any different,” Sutherland said. “It could create a black market, and the fact that you’re allowed to grow it at home, you just created your black market right there.”

Cam Battley, senior vice-president with Alberta-based Aurora Cannabis and member of the Canadian Medical Cannabis Industry Association board of directors, said the task force’s recommendations on harmonizing the ages is a “pragmatic approach,” but there is a lot riding on getting the legislation “right the first time.”

“From Aurora’s perspective, we defer absolutely to the provinces in establishing the system that they think is best,” Battley said.

“There’s a lot riding on this and the world’s eyes are upon us because we’re the first developed country in the world to legalize cannabis for consumer use.”