BC: Forums To Focus On Marijuana In Advance Of Legalization

Katelyn Baker

Well-Known Member
A Thompson Rivers University business professor likens the potential economic opportunity and social change from the legalization of marijuana to the dot.com phenomenon two decades ago.

Paul Clark, who teaches in the school of business and economics, is behind two community forums that will lead to a formal academic conference in the fall focusing on the future of cannabis. The first is Thursday at 7 p.m. in room IB1020 of the International Building.

Those in attendance will hear from a panel including a medical practitioner, city councillor and patient industry representative. The forums and conference will explore both the recreational and medical markets.

"There's not a lot of occasions where there's an industry moving from the grey market to being regulated," Clark said. "I think the cannabis industry will represent a really significant new area of expertise and knowledge."

The federal Liberal government has committed to legalizing marijuana and has pledged to bring in new legislation next year.

A task force released a report last month recommending a minimum age of 19 and plain-package retailing. It is widely thought recreational marijuana will come to market in early 2018.

There has been frenetic market activity on the TSX, with current licensed medical producers seeing a doubling or tripling of their stock prices.

At the same time, entrepreneurs are setting up dispensaries and clinics in anticipation of retailing marijuana.

There are at least five such locations in Kamloops.

While private liquor store owners and BCGEU have lobbied for the right to sell marijuana, the task force recommended against selling booze and pot in the same location.

Canada will become only the second nation in the world to legalize pot. While it is sold in a number of U.S. states, federal laws restrict its growth as a business.

Those restrictions won't be in place in Canada and some companies are already positioning themselves on an international scale.

"I saw the dot.com era explode in front of us," Clark said. "I think in many ways this is similar. I'm really interested in the pioneering aspect."

The second community forum is set for April 8. Both will lead to the academic conference in October that will have a Western Canadian or national focus.

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Full Article: Forums To Focus On Marijuana In Advance Of Legalization
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