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In 2017, the government collected 60,000 online, telephone and in-person surveys from Albertans to help inform the provincial framework, she said.

“People can have conversations with their kids … and colleagues … that they probably couldn’t have a year ago.”

The secretariat has consulted with authorities further along in the legalization process, including the states of Washington and Colorado, she said.

Photo by Ian Kucerak / Postmedia

Washington became the first U.S. state to legalize the recreational use of cannabis in 2012. Colorado followed shortly after.

Legalization is slated to happen across Canada on July 1.

Capstick said public education will include promoting responsible use at the point of purchase — “either in the store … or on the government online site.”

In November, the Alberta government rolled out the first retail rules. Finance Minister Joe Ceci said more details will be announced in the new year. And Transportation Minister Brian Mason introduced legislation in November to amend traffic laws in preparation for legalization. But there are still a plethora of unanswered questions about what legalization will look like.

Rowland noted the challenges of educating the public.

“There were quite literally people who didn’t even know if it was illegal to drive high at the beginning,” he said, adding that responsible use and safe storage are key components of the Denver education strategy.

Almost every jurisdiction said in hindsight that public education should have started sooner, Capstick added.

“Not everybody is on the same page about this,” she said. “Some people are really excited about it and some people are really afraid of what’s to come.”

Rowland said individuals need to learn to test their own limits, too.

“Many of us are savvy alcohol consumers, we’ve all tested our limits and we all know a glass of wine is a beer is a shot,” he said. “We understand what those mean for us. People don’t know that for marijuana yet.”

“The only thing you can expect is the unexpected at this point.”

cclancy@postmedia.com

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