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The provincial government has given itself just over five weeks to gather input from municipalities, the public and other stakeholders about non-medical cannabis regulation in B.C.

It’s an ambitious deadline, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth conceded on Monday during the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) conference in Vancouver as he announced the province’s plans for public consultations.

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The goal is to collect feedback in time to draft legislation for the spring legislative session and be ready when the federal government legalizes marijuana next July.

“This is a critical issue for British Columbia and British Columbians, and we’re operating on a very tight timeline — July of 2018 is not that far away,” said Farnworth.

The province will gather input from as many interested parties as possible.

Farnworth said they will form a standing committee on cannabis legalization with the UBCM comprised of representatives and technical experts from both the union and the province.