Article content

Federal recommendations on legalizing cannabis are planting sturdy policy seeds, say Alberta authorities.

Task force suggestions — including strong provincial and municipal control over how marijuana is produced and sold, the exclusion of liquor stores as retailers and a minimum age of 18 for buyers — drew positive reviews from NDP Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Marijuana legalization guidelines get high marks in Alberta Back to video

“It makes it a little bit better for Alberta because it makes it a model other provinces are developing,” said Ganley of the recommendation pot be sold in shops other than liquor stores.

She said a minimum age of 18 is a realistic one, given most of the drug’s users now start in their teens with illegal cannabis.

“If you’re trying to bring the illegal market to a legal market, you need to bring the majority of those people along with you,” said Ganley.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi was cautiously receptive of a four-plant home grow limit and retail recommendations, but said he’s leery about legalization, as well as many unknowns in the unfolding cannabis policy.

“We really needed this federal government framework in place, but we will continue to engage with the province on the stuff that impacts the city,” said Nenshi.

“It’s complicated stuff, and whether or not you are in favour of legalization — I’m not sure that I am — the city nonetheless has to be ready for it.”