West Kelowna councillors are recommending the province implement a public retail system with a government distribution model for marijuana, once it’s made legal.
Council came up with feedback for the province's framework for the legalization of marijuana, at a meeting earlier this week.
Councillor Duane Ophus said sales could always move to a private sector at a later date.
“There are all kinds of opportunities later on, if it works, to change that,” he said “But let’s start with a publically owned retail system that needs to conform with local bylaws.”
Councillors agreed that the province should prohibit public cannabis smoking altogether, but allow cannabis vaping wherever tobacco smoking and vaping is allowed.
Councillors also recommended that 19 be the minimum age to buy, grow, and possess marijuana, including Mayor Doug Findlater, who admitted there are compelling health arguments to make it higher than that.
“I just think it’d be too difficult to manage if it’s any different than alcohol- it’s a risk that has to be taken,” he said “So if alcohol moves in the future, so should this, but I think they should be treated similarly just for reasons of administration.”
Council also thinks the province should launch a public education and awareness campaign regarding cannabis-impaired driving, establish a zero-tolerance standard for "L" or "N" drivers, provide training to police officers to identify impairment and include drug-impaired driving in Immediate Roadside Prohibition or Administrative Driving Prohibition enforcement.
With some of the framework areas, councillors said it was difficult to make a recommendation without knowing if the province would allocate more money, as some options would cost more than others.
Council is also indicating an interest in revenue sharing with the province as municipalities will be faced with costs related to police training and bylaw enforcement.
Councillor Rosalind Neis did not take part in the discussion because she holds stocks in publically traded cannabis companies and declared a conflict of interest.