The provincial government turned to the residents from the province for feedback on how the regulation of marijuana sales should take shape when it becomes legal across the country next year. To collect the feedback, they used an online survey. There were 34,681 responses received, the most of any online survey the province has ever conducted.

The survey included questions about age limits on cannabis sales, public consumption, taxation, distribution, retail models, regulatory compliance and impaired driving laws.

More than 60 percent of the respondents wanted a mix of retail stores and online sales in terms of how it should be made available. As to who should be the ones in charge, it was a bit more of a split. In terms of government involvement, 45 percent felt there should be a government-run retailer, similar to the SLGA, while 37 percent feel it should be handled by small businesses in the private sector.

More than half of all respondents feel there should be no further restrictions put in place by municipalities after the provincial rules are established.

The majority of respondents do think there should be a prohibition on consuming cannabis in a public space and an overwhelming majority feel it shouldn’t be consumed in a vehicle. How this restriction would be implemented wasn’t addressed in the survey.

As for impaired driving with cannabis involved, 57 percent say there should be a zero tolerance, with only 26 percent feeling there should be some sort of tolerance allowed. As for penalties for drug-impaired driving, 65 percent feel they should be the same penalties as are currently in effect for driving while impaired by alcohol.

When it comes to the taxation of marijuana, nearly 60 percent think there should be an excise tax in place at the provincial level. Nearly 70 percent of all respondents felt a portion of the taxes collected from the sale of cannabis should be directed to enforcement, public education, harm reduction, impaired driving prevention, and mental health and addictions treatment.

The federal government has announced their plans to legalize marijuana. The legislation is expected to be passed by July of next year.