B.C. Conservatives support free-market sourcing of cannabis

[ScottSA]

"In keeping with our philosophy as a free enterprise party, the B.C. Conservatives will allow and encourage, within a tight regulatory framework, small entrepreneurs to compete in any distribution and growth model, regardless of whether the provincial alcohol distribution model is adopted," Anderson said in a news release. "Further, we will make every effort to allow small scale 'craft growers' to compete with large growers on a level playing field.

"Competition helps drive down prices, increase efficiencies and create jobs, and we encourage all of those things," Anderson continued. "And if we want to put the black market out of business and keep cannabis out of the hands of underage kids, it is crucial to successfully compete with it in terms of price."

http://www.castanet.net/news/Vernon/218 ... fire-salvo

https://www.straight.com/cannabis/10297 ... g-cannabis

[Verum]

How do you feel about local governments having a major say in where these retailers operate?

[Prestige Mike]

I am in favour of the legalization of all drugs. That said, I do not want the free-market to have free reign with substances. Drug use is inevitable and cannot be stopped, but they do pose societal problems. That is why I would like to see them legalized but highly regulated. Prices should not be too low (basic economics says the lower the price of a product the more demand and consumption of the product), there should be no advertising for drugs or alcohol, there should be no selling of drugs and alcohol to minor, nor should drug products target or be appealing to minors (IE a free market California has a huge edible THC candy market).

The free-market is great for a lot of products, but I am skeptical that it is a good idea to let the free-market have complete control over the distribution of marijuana and other drugs. Look at how the free-market has promoted alcohol.

[ScottSA]

How do you feel about local governments having a major say in where these retailers operate?

Municipal governments have de facto jurisdiction over where retailers operate through the use of bylaws. They can't say no to retailers, but they can say something like "no retail locations within 100 miles of a school," which would effectively preclude retailers from operating. More likely most municipalities will use that power to circumscribe where retailers can operate, using reasonable metrics. However, our party wants to give municipalities full de jure power over whether they want retailers at all, as a matter of principle. Our full cannabis plank is here:
http://www.bcconservative.ca/bc_conserv ... stribution