View From the Legislature

While the federal Liberal government has made the decision to legalize marijuana, it left in the hands of the provinces many decisions including, how it would be sold, the legal age it could be used and where it could be used.

These decisions are difficult enough on their own, but they were made more difficult by the rush that the Trudeau Liberals were in to legalize marijuana. Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government has, from the outset, said that it would make decisions based on safety and public health. These are truly unchartered waters for Canada and the unintended or unforeseen consequences of legalizing marijuana may have significant impact.

Manitoba set the age of legal consumption of marijuana at 19, becoming the only province to set a higher age for marijuana use than for alcohol use. This was important to both give additional authority to keep the drug out of schools but to emphasis that while the Trudeau government is making it legal, marijuana is an intoxicant. In addition, there are numerous health studies on the negative impact in can have on youth and on brain development.

Our government has also brought forward legislation to ensure there are strong penalties for driving a vehicle while under the influence of marijuana. This would include strong penalties for novice drivers who fail a roadside drug screening test.

As Minister of Health, on Tuesday I also brought forward legislation that deals with where marijuana will be able to be smoked or vaped when it becomes legal. Our government has again looked to public safety and health to guide these restrictions. Marijuana will be unlawful to smoke or vape in all indoor public places and workplaces. This is consistent with the legislation that currently exists for tobacco smoking. In addition, marijuana will be unlawful to smoke or vape in outdoor public places. This would include on streets, sidewalks, parks, beaches, school grounds, restaurant patios and decks and the grounds of health-care facilities.

While some exceptions will exist for the use of medicinal marijuana, as a government we believe that it is important to have a strong and comprehensive control of the public use of marijuana. For years’ governments have invested in preventing the normalization of smoking and these restrictions speak to the need to continue that work and to ensure safety and health concerns are a key priority.

The decision by federal Liberal government to legalize marijuana has left many difficult decisions for provincial governments to make in short timeframes. Those decisions have been made easier in Manitoba by being guided by the priority of health and safety.