Legal weed questions light up at Calgary HempFest
'We can reasonable predict that it will likely follow the liquor store model,' lawyer predicts
HempFest Cannabis Expo at Calgary's BMO Centre attracted thousands this weekend and there was lots of talk about what happens next year when recreational weed is legalized.
Bongs, hemp, medical cannabis, there was something for everyone at HempFest, but organizer Sacha Hockenhull says the rules and regulations around legalizing it, is a hot topic of conversation.
"You can get a beer almost anywhere, I don't want to see that obviously because I don't think all restaurants should serve marijuana but you know, can we have cafes that are designed for that," Hockenhull asks.
Marijuana will be legal across the country next summer, but Alberta has yet to release its proposed framework for managing it.
Taylor Boyse says he hopes some of his questions will be answered when Alberta's rules are announced.
"How are they going to keep younger children out of it, older people in it, the whole medical application is very important too," Boyse said.
Alex Kooiman with Quarry Park Law is speaking at HempFest about the legalization and the restrictions.
As for the province's policy, "We can reasonably predict that it will likely follow the liquor store model here, the private liquor store model in the province of Alberta," Kooiman said.
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With files from Terri Trembath