LCBO ‘very well suited’ to sell marijuana: Premier Wynne

TORONTO – There’s no firm date when the federal government plans to legalize marijuana in Canada but Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said the province’s regulated liquor stores would be a good place to sell it.

“It makes sense to me that liquor distribution mechanism that we have in place, the LCBO, is very well suited to putting in place the social responsibility aspects that would need to be in place,” Wynne said following a joint meeting with Toronto Mayor John Tory on Monday at Queen’s Park.

“Obviously, I don’t know what the timeline is of the federal government. But it seems to me that using that distribution network of the LCBO, as has been talked about in other provinces, using their provincial institutions, I think that makes a lot of sense.”

The federal Liberal government reaffirmed its plan to legalize pot during the speech from the throne on Dec. 4.

READ MORE: Medical marijuana risks may outweigh benefits for children: Canadian pediatricians

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a campaign promise to” legalize, regulate and restrict access to marijuana” in Canada but few details of the plan have been released.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union said last month the LCBO would be the safest place to sell pot if the government decides to follow through with its plan.

“If legalization happens, marijuana must be a controlled substance, and no one has more experience retailing controlled substances than the workers at the LCBO,” Warren (Smokey) Thomas said in a media release.

“The LCBO has a solid track record of responsibly selling alcohol and would bring the same service standard to marijuana.”

The LCBO currently operates 651 outlets across Ontario.