If the Conservatives win the election, Leader Andrew Scheer said the party won鈥檛 touch the marijuana legislation, rather it will further support the industry鈥檚 growth through ongoing medical research.
鈥淚 made the statement some months ago that a Conservative government would not change the legal nature of cannabis,鈥� Scheer said during his visit to 琉璃神社 on Canada Day.
The Liberal government鈥檚 legalization of recreational cannabis was originally slotted for Canada Day in 2018, however, it wasn鈥檛 passed until October 17, 2018.
READ MORE: Okanagan鈥檚 first legal cannabis store opens
Now, a year after the fact, the Okanagan welcomed its first cannabis store on Canada Day: SpiritLeaf.
鈥淚t is legal now and there are many people who work in various industries related to that, so we are going to maintain the legal status of cannabis,鈥� he said.
Thousands of jobs have been created in the new sector countrywide, Starbuds director of marketing Dan Winer said during the 琉璃神社 Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 Business of Cannabis 2.0 luncheon on June 25.
鈥淲e鈥檝e created so many jobs,鈥� he said. 鈥淣ot only in the Okanagan but across the country. And now, these Okanagan companies are going international.鈥�
Lake Country is home to a number of cannabis manufacturers and extractors including Starbuds Cannabis, Indigenous Bloom 琉璃神社 and Valens GroWorks Corporation and soon, once licenced by the provincial government, more than 15 cannabis retail outlets may open in 琉璃神社.
READ MORE: 琉璃神社 council ready to consider pot shop rezonings
READ MORE: Two 琉璃神社 sites rezoned for pot shops
But, like many others, Scheer said more work is to be done to ensure the booming new industry succeeds.
鈥淲e do think there is a lot of work required in terms of research and understanding the health dynamics of it,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e want to make sure the federal government is not just a partner but is leading the way on that as we learn what the ramifications of what legalization will mean for our society going into the future,鈥� Scheer said.
READ MORE: Pot legalization has been successful, but could be better: industry leaders
Caitlin.clow@kelownacapnews.com
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