If the Conservatives win the election, Leader Andrew Scheer said the party won91Ƶt touch the marijuana legislation, rather it will further support the industry91Ƶs growth through ongoing medical research.
91ƵI made the statement some months ago that a Conservative government would not change the legal nature of cannabis,91Ƶ Scheer said during his visit to Kelowna on Canada Day.
The Liberal government91Ƶs legalization of recreational cannabis was originally slotted for Canada Day in 2018, however, it wasn91Ƶt passed until October 17, 2018.
READ MORE: Okanagan91Ƶs first legal cannabis store opens
Now, a year after the fact, the Okanagan welcomed its first cannabis store on Canada Day: SpiritLeaf.
91ƵIt is legal now and there are many people who work in various industries related to that, so we are going to maintain the legal status of cannabis,91Ƶ he said.
Thousands of jobs have been created in the new sector countrywide, Starbuds director of marketing Dan Winer said during the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce91Ƶs Business of Cannabis 2.0 luncheon on June 25.
91ƵWe91Ƶve created so many jobs,91Ƶ he said. 91ƵNot only in the Okanagan but across the country. And now, these Okanagan companies are going international.91Ƶ
Lake Country is home to a number of cannabis manufacturers and extractors including Starbuds Cannabis, Indigenous Bloom Kelowna and Valens GroWorks Corporation and soon, once licenced by the provincial government, more than 15 cannabis retail outlets may open in Kelowna.
READ MORE: Kelowna council ready to consider pot shop rezonings
READ MORE: Two Kelowna sites rezoned for pot shops
But, like many others, Scheer said more work is to be done to ensure the booming new industry succeeds.
91ƵWe do think there is a lot of work required in terms of research and understanding the health dynamics of it,91Ƶ he said.
91ƵWe want to make sure the federal government is not just a partner but is leading the way on that as we learn what the ramifications of what legalization will mean for our society going into the future,91Ƶ Scheer said.
READ MORE: Pot legalization has been successful, but could be better: industry leaders
Caitlin.clow@kelownacapnews.com
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