By Cheryl Jahn

“Buy Legal” says Public Safety Minister

Jun 9, 2021 | 3:31 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – BC bud has always been big business in this province and for the past two and a half years, it has been legal, sold in 370 legal cannabis stores. But illegal cannabis sales are still happening.

“As you know, in this province, there has been a long-established cannabis sector for a very long time,” explains Mike Farnworth, Public Safety Minister, who adds it took the state of Colorado four year after legalizing marijuana to go from 100 percent illegal sales to 70 percent legal sales and BC is pretty much in the same situation.

But Farnworth today released the results of testing done on samples sold illegally. It found that, in all the illegal samples, lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury were found, as were a number of pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides.

“My message to people who choose to consume cannabis is simple: buy from legal sellers whose regulated product is subject to national requirements that are in place to protect you,” says Farnworth. “In addition to the potential health risks, if you buy illegal cannabis, you could also be supporting organized criminal operations that pose a danger to our communities.”

Cougars

Cougars eliminate Chiefs in Game 6

5h ago

Spring Snow

Special weather statement issued for Pine Pass, Peace region with 'moderate to heavy snow' expected

15h ago

Taber, Alta., named Hockeyville winner over Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

18h ago

Public Safety Critic Mike Morris praised the government’s move to do the testing, albeit late. And he says the sale of illicit cannabis is a province-wide issue.

“Well, there’s still a black market in the North. It’s thriving. Quite often I hear about drug seizures, fentanyl, heroin, and other drugs, including cannabis as well being seized in Prince George and Kamloops and across the province. It’s a pretty prevalent problem.”

Farnworth concluded today’s presentation with suggestions of more enforcement measures to be announced in the days to come.