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Baby boomer generation dominates SACPA cannabis information session

Mar 20, 2018 | 3:28 PM

LETHBRIDGE – The Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA), held a meeting Tuesday to discuss how retail legislation for Cannabis will be rolled out in Alberta.

But it wasn’t mainly would-be entrepreneurs who attended the luncheon and speech, it was those in the 50+ age group, curious about what the laws around possession, sales, consumption, and even edibles would entail when cannabis becomes legal this summer.

LNN spoke with several of those people. Although they declined to give their names, those who had never consumed it said they would try it, while others who said they used it in the 1960s and 70s would continue to use it when it becomes legal.

“I would like to try it. I probably will try it, at least once” said one woman. “You’ve got to do it in moderation and with some care.”

“Cannabis has been around since I was a kid,” said another person. “Its acceptance in society has been a continuing change towards more acceptance. It’s interesting to see now that they’re going to make it legal.”

Still others at the meeting in the same age group said consuming marijuana in some form might help with their ailments.

“When you take a lot of pills and that, maybe this will replace some of them. Especially with pain killers.”

Another woman said it would save her the time and effort of going to B.C. to get her supply.

“You can go to B.C. where it’s a free for all, and it’s pretty easy to get, so yes. I will use it. I think there’s no difference between that and a glass of wine.”

Guest Speaker Mack Andrews, with the Alberta Cannabis Collective, said he was happy to see older generations coming out to learn more about the laws and regulations.

“Typically, the demographic is a little younger. It’s a lot of people who are very at interested in getting into the business. A lot of young entrepreneurs. But this doesn’t surprise me. One of the biggest demographic groups to begin cannabis use after legalization in some other jurisdictions is that 50 and above. So, really excited to see an older group here.”

For users, Andrews said it’s important to know that a person can only possess 30g on their person at any given time. Users can also grow up to a maximum of four plants in their home and that driving high is not only illegal, but very dangerous.

Users will only be able to buy online from the AGLC, and from approved retailers that have undergone specialized training, have a special provincial government and municipal business license, and background checks.

“There’s a lot of people out there who use cannabis who are very high functioning,” explained Andrews. “There’s a huge stigma that will be broken in the coming years… and it won’t have those same negative connotations associated with it.”