Cannabis activists say that while they’ve succeeded in helping to push for marijuana legalization across the country, their work is far from over.
The federal government has committed to making recreational cannabis legal by July 1, 2018, but has tasked provincial governments with establishing their own business and regulatory models that will make the new legislation a reality.
Activists say they need only look at the early versions of provincial plans to find targets for future campaigns.
They say provinces such as Ontario, which plans to levy fines of up to $1 million on businesses that illegally sell recreational weed, are wrong to try and monopolize marijuana sales and should allow storefront dispensaries to operate.
Others say they plan to crusade for medical marijuana users, who they feel are being left behind as legalization moves ahead.
Still more say their efforts will involve pushing for relaxed consumption rules, such as marijuana licenses for restaurants and other public spaces.