If the Conservatives win the election, Leader Andrew Scheer said the party won㽶Ƶֱt touch the marijuana legislation, rather it will further support the industry㽶Ƶֱs growth through ongoing medical research.
㽶ƵֱI made the statement some months ago that a Conservative government would not change the legal nature of cannabis,㽶Ƶֱ Scheer said during his visit to Kelowna on Canada Day.
The Liberal government㽶Ƶֱs legalization of recreational cannabis was originally slotted for Canada Day in 2018, however, it wasn㽶Ƶֱt passed until October 17, 2018.
READ MORE: Okanagan㽶Ƶֱs first legal cannabis store opens
Now, a year after the fact, the Okanagan welcomed its first cannabis store on Canada Day: SpiritLeaf.
㽶ƵֱIt 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,㽶Ƶֱ he said.
Thousands of jobs have been created in the new sector countrywide, Starbuds director of marketing Dan Winer said during the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce㽶Ƶֱs Business of Cannabis 2.0 luncheon on June 25.
㽶ƵֱWe㽶Ƶֱve created so many jobs,㽶Ƶֱ he said. 㽶ƵֱNot only in the Okanagan but across the country. And now, these Okanagan companies are going international.㽶Ƶֱ
Lake Country is home to a number of cannabis manufacturers and extractors including Starbuds Cannabis, Indigenous Bloom Kelowna and Valens GroWorks Corporation and soon, once licenced by the provincial government, more than 15 cannabis retail outlets may open in Kelowna.
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But, like many others, Scheer said more work is to be done to ensure the booming new industry succeeds.
㽶ƵֱWe do think there is a lot of work required in terms of research and understanding the health dynamics of it,㽶Ƶֱ he said.
㽶ƵֱWe 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,㽶Ƶֱ Scheer said.
READ MORE: Pot legalization has been successful, but could be better: industry leaders
Caitlin.clow@kelownacapnews.com
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