Legal pot could see justice costs climb, not drop, Alberta’s Notley says
OTTAWA — Alberta’s premier says she’s worried that marijuana legalization could drive up policing and court bills her province cannot afford to pay.
The justice system is already overburdened and enforcing new pot-related measures could make things worse, Rachel Notley warned in an interview with The Canadian Press.
Notley said she was surprised by the recent federal proposal to levy an excise tax on recreational marijuana once it becomes legal next July, with the provinces and territories receiving just half the revenue.
Alberta and other provinces have already expressed displeasure about the sharing plan, saying they should get the bulk of the revenues to cover their costs. The issue will resurface at a meeting of federal, provincial and territorial finance ministers next month.