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Alberta would also allow consumption at home or in public areas where smoking is already permitted unlike Ontario, which proposes limiting pot use to private homes. Alberta will rightly ban cannabis use in vehicles or in areas frequented by children such as playgrounds.

The province proposes a government-regulated distribution model as exists with booze to ensure the sale of legally produced products.

There are still questions: How to allow online sales while keeping the product away from minors; how do police enforce impairment laws; and what about cannabis cafes? To come up with answers, the province is asking the public for ideas and feedback until Oct. 27.

The most challenging question may be whether retail cannabis sales will be run by private enterprise or government. New Brunswick and Ontario have indicated they are moving toward the latter option. Ganley notes there are pros and cons to both.

Government-run stores offer greater control over sales and protection from the black market but would also require developing from scratch a system of stores reminiscent of the old Alberta Liquor Control Board outlets that monopolized alcohol sales before privatization.

“But down the road, there’s the potential in several years that the government could net increased revenues from a public system,” Ganley said.

That way lies madness. The province must resist the costly and risky temptation to build a chain of cannabis stores; retail is a precarious business best left to industry. Instead, pass the responsibility to the private sector while recouping the costs of marijuana legalization with a reasonable new sin tax on the product.

Local editorials are the consensus opinion of the Journal’s editorial board, comprising Mark Iype, Dave Breakenridge, Sarah O’Donnell, Bill Mah and David Evans.