The Quebec government's public consultations on its marijuana bill are winding down and it's been hearing lots of concerns over the past couple of weeks about the federal government's pending legalization of recreational marijuana use next year.
"We are very worried with this new law," said Seychelle Harding, spokesperson for Portage rehab centre which presented a brief at the hearings in Montreal last week.
"We receive throughout Canada about 500 adolescents every year between the ages of 14 and 18. And 88% of them have issues or a dependance to marijuana."
Que's #pot bill public consultations continue today in Montreal. Here's what Portage spokesperson Seychelle Harding said yesterday. #CJAD pic.twitter.com/kS1WWOd5fp
— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) September 8, 2017
Harding said they want the legal age of sale of the drug to be 21 and over. They also want the majority of tax revenue and funding - if not all of it - to be earmarked for prevention programs and centres like theirs.
"Centres like ours will see more kids coming in with issues," Harding told CJAD 800 News.
"Some even go into psychosis. As you know the THC levels that we have now are not the THC levels that were on the market 20-30 years ago so it can be very dangerous."
Martin Messier, president of the Quebec Landlords Association expressed their concerns yesterday at #pot bill public consultations. #CJAD pic.twitter.com/Wi5DBOUY7m
— Shuyee Lee (@sleeCJAD) September 8, 2017
Quebec Landlords Association president Martin Messier said strict regulations have to be in place to avoid having buildings turned into mini pot factories.
"We want to be able to reopen the leases because at this point in time, if nothing is done, we won't be able to control cannabis in our own buildings so that doesn't make sense," said Messier who also presented their position last week.
Gatineau is the last stop in the series of public consultations that end Wednesday which is also the deadline to submit your opinion via an online survey.