Essex MPP Taras Natyshak is disappointed with the province's proposed marijuana legislation.
On Wednesday, the provincial government rolled out its proposed bill which bans marijuana use in public places, workplaces and vehicles.
It also sets the legal age to use and buy at 19.
(Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
Natyshak says there are still many unanswered questions including how much the product will be taxed.
"How are the retail locations being determined and is that adequate consultations with those locations and the communities that are going to host them," says Natyshak. "Ultimately what is the price of the cannabis that's going to be sold through these locations because if we don't get that right, the model is simply just going to fail,"
Natyshak says he'll continue to push for public feedback.
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Proposed bill highlights -
- Sets the legal age to use, buy or cultivate marijuana at 19.
- Bans cannabis use in public places, workplaces and vehicles.
- Creates a provincial retailer, a subsidiary of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, which will open and operate 150 standalone stores to sell cannabis by 2020. The first 40 will open by July 2018, with that number rising to 80 by July 2019.
- Establishes a penalty structure to crack down on illegal storefront dispensaries. The maximum fine for unlawful cannabis sales by an individual is set at $250,000 and two years less a day in jail. For corporations, the fines range from $25,000 to $1 million. That same fine structure also applies to landlords (individual and corporate property owners) who knowing allow illegal marijuana sales on their property.
- Establishes fines of $200 for people under 19 who are convicted of cannabis possession or consumption while also allowing for diversion, instead of the fine, into programs focused on education and prevention.
- Under the proposed rules, young or novice drivers (with a G1, G2, M1 or M2 licence) would face licence suspensions from three to 30 days and fines from $250 to $450 if they have drugs or alcohol in their system. Currently, young and novice drivers face a 24-hour licence suspension and no monetary penalty.