The Liberals’ move to hand the weedy job of legalizing pot to Toronto’s former police chief, Scarborough Southwest MP Bill Blair, gives them perfect political cover but also raises a few questions. On his watch, Toronto police practised zero tolerance toward weed. What will legalization look like under the Libs?

1. Putting the pinch on storefront pot operations.

Word on the street is that the Libs may decide to limit the number of pot plants designated growers – the folks who got licences under the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR) – will be able to grow. That would be bad news for dispensaries, which rely on medpot growers for their supply. If the feds also decide to relax rules around advertising medical bud, that could spell double trouble for dispensaries. Right now there are tight rules about what claims licensed producers can and can’t make. Those go away and dispensaries may not be able to compete.

2. Liquor is quicker.

Those with visions of 70s-style head shops popping up all over town and pushing kush over the counter while strains of Marley play in the background should think again. Blair has already signalled that he likes Premier Kathleen Wynne’s idea: selling weed through the LCBO.

3. Dollars and sinsemilla.

The Libs have promised to relax rules to allow more licensed producers into the market. More producers should mean more competition and lower prices. Licensed producers are charging up to $8 a gram for product right now.

4. Legal limit.

The Liberal government’s idea is not to turn Canuckistan into pothead heaven. Legal weed will come with strict regulation, including stiffer penalties for selling weed to minors and driving under its influence. That’s all about making access more difficult for young people. There are also nuisances like those pesky international laws Canada will be running up against once possession and production of marijuana are legal.

5. Taxing questions.

A biggie: will legal weed really kill the black market? Probably not. Chances are you’ll be paying a premium for blunt on offer at the LCBO since, like booze and tobacco, it will no doubt be heavily taxed.

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