Yukon communities getting ready to roll with legal pot

The promised legalization of marijuana next yearhas some small municipalities in Yukon looking ahead, and wondering what their role will be.

"What concerns us right now is the timelines," saidDiana Rogerson, the president of the Association of Yukon Communities (AYC).

"We know from a municipal perspective that we are going to have to look at revising existing bylaws, or creating newbylaws and policies."

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The federal government has promised to legalize cannabis use by July.The territories and provinces have to decide what the rules should be in their individual jurisdictions.

So far the AYChas been in talks with the Yukon government, Rogersonsaid. But until the territoryhas a plan for distribution, the municipalities are left waiting and wonderingwhat their next steps shouldbe.

"That work is really dependant to a large extent on what the territorial distribution model's going to look like," she said.

The AYC has requested to be part of the working group that was established by the Yukon government, said Rogerson, but isstill waiting for a response. Shehopes the municipal perspective will be taken into account when decisions are being made by the Yukon government.

Tight timeline

In the meantime, she said, the communities have been trying to prepare for legalization as best as they can.

"Right now we're already looking at our existing bylaws and trying to identify where changes need to be made," said Rogerson.

One concern, she says, is the tight timeline she's unsure whethersmall communities have the capacity to revise anybylaws by July.

Rogersonsays enforcement, and the demands on RCMP officers, is another potential concern.

The government of Yukon launchedan online survey last month, to collect ideas and opinions on legalization. Yukoners have until Sept. 30 to respond to the survey.

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