By CHAT News Today

Chiefs of Police pen letter to Albertans about cannabis legalization

Nov 16, 2017 | 6:30 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police have written a letter to Albertans regarding the legalization of marijuana.

The 12 members believe “there is insufficient time for the full consideration necessary in the creation of the regulatory framework” to make sure all Albertans are safe once cannabis is legal.

“We need to say what we’re talking about in the back room,” said police chief and president of the association Andy McGrogan. “We’re not trying to be alarmists, we’re not trying to say this is all wrong, this is bad. It’s just, lets give the provincial government and all of us time to make sure that we’ve got the pieces in place that we need to keep people safe.”

McGrogan said members are concerned about road safety, organized crime and just how easy it could be for young people to get their hands on it.

“Online distribution, is it going to be safe? Are we going to know that it’s an adult actually buying that cannabis?” he asked. “Store fonts, have we got the right regulations in place to ensure that youths can’t access it?”

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McGrogan hopes once pot is legalized, it doesn’t become normalized in the eyes of youth.

He suggests adding another year to the timeline.

Ottawa is planning on legalizing marijuana by July 1, 2018.