P.E.I. sets legal age for pot at 19, to be sold in government-owned stores and online

The province took another step toward marijuana legislation on Thursday when the Liberal government announced decisions made around legal age, where it can be consumed and where it will be sold.

According to a government news release, the legal age for pot use will be 19, aligned with the province's legal age for alcohol and tobacco.

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Delivered by Canada Post

Additionally, potuse will be restricted to private residences so as to prevent secondhand smoke and the "normalization of cannabis smoking without stigmatization," the release said.

Potential for expanding smoking to public spaces could be introduced ata later date.

The P.E.I. Liquor Control Commission will be the retail distributor for cannabis products, the release said. Though it will be sold in government-owned retail locations, marijuana won't be sold alongside alcohol.

Government also announced they'd operate an online store for Islanders to purchase marijuana and it will be delivered by Canada Post.

Survey conducted in fall

The province entersthe next phase of marijuana legislation after receiving and analyzingroughly 3,000 responses fromthe public and stakeholders in a survey conducted inthe fall.

During the winter, the province plans to take the responses from Islanders and stakeholders and present draft legislationto the assemblyin the spring. A public awareness campaign is expected to follow.

Legislation is expected to come into effect July 1, 2018.

In the release, government indicated that in2015, 28.7 per centof Islanders aged 18-24 reported using cannabis in the past year.

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