4.3.13

Description: 
In collaboration with residents, Aboriginal governments, community governments and other stakeholders, we will develop and implement the policy, program and legislative regimes necessary to support the legalization of cannabis in the Northwest Territories.
Lead Dept: 
DOJ
Priority: 
4.3
Status: 
Fulfilled
Restructured COC: 
Social Envelope
Number: 
13
Deputy Minister Committee: 
Social Envelope
Background Information: 

COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND SAFETY

Commitment 4.3.13 – In collaboration with residents, Aboriginal governments, community governments and other stakeholders, we will develop and implement the policy, program and legislative regimes necessary to support the legalization of cannabis in the Northwest Territories.

In April 2017, the federal government introduced legislation that would set a framework for legalizing, regulating and restricting access to cannabis. All provinces and territories must decide how they will address a number of issues including: minimum age for purchase and consumption, the model for sales and distribution, public consumption, drug-impaired driving, and impairment in the workplace.

In May 2017, Executive Council approved the following principles to guide the GNWTs response to the legalization of cannabis:

  • Restrict youth access to cannabis, and protect young people from promotion or enticements to use cannabis;

  • allow adults to possess and access regulated, quality controlled legal cannabis;

  • discourage drug-impaired driving;

  • protect workers and the public from drug-impairment in the workplace;

  • protect public health by controlling the public smoking of cannabis;

  • enhance public awareness of the health risks associated with cannabis;

  • provide a safe and secure retail regime for the adult purchase of cannabis; and

  • provide for local options to establish cannabis distribution and consumption restrictions and prohibitions.

GNWT departments with responsibilities relating to cannabis are working to ensure that programs, policies and regulations are developed and put into place by July 2018. Steps include conducting public engagement on the legalization of cannabis (Milestone 1), releasing a report on the results of the GNWT’s public engagement (Milestone 2), developing a legislative proposal (Milestone 3), publically releasing the GNWT’s proposed approach to regulating cannabis (Milestone 4), and introducing a Bill to support the legalization of cannabis in the NWT (Milestone 5).