From: Herald | Opinions
OPINION: Why the double standard for pot and cigarette taxes?
For nearly a century, the marijuana industry in Canada has been left to the black market. This has enriched criminal organizations, promoted violence in communities and done little to prevent youth access to the drug. Today the federal government is seeking to redress this issue and, by legalizing marijuana, intends to shift it from the hands of criminals and into a more responsible marketplace.
The policy’s success will largely depend on the regulatory details and, more specifically, on pricing. If the price of legal marijuana is considerably higher than illegal marijuana, we should not expect consumers to buy from a legal source. To this point, the government’s approach is informed, pragmatic, and reasonable: both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Finance Minister Bill Morneau have repeatedly called for keeping taxes low to ensure the viability of the legal industry over the black market.
