The legalization of cannabis in Canada is approaching quickly—as early as this July.

Here in BC, the provincial government just announced that adults will be able to buy marijuana from private retailers and in government-run stores. However, the province will only license retailers with support from local governments.

What will legal pot mean for you, your children, your community, and this country? Will dispensaries like Salt Spring’s Leaf Compassion be grandfathered into the new system? Will mega-corporations take over, or will the new system allow for micro-growers? Will legalization for adults end up punishing youth?

To answer all of your questions, Victoria-based lawyer and marijuana law reform advocate Kirk Tousaw joins the Salt Spring Forum in discussion on Friday, February 16 at 7:30 PM at ArtSpring.

A major force behind the legalization of cannabis in Canada, Tousaw is the go-to person for litigation concerning marijuana, up to and including the Supreme Court of Canada.

A long-standing and influential proponent of law reform, Tousaw is a founding board member of Sensible BC and a former board member of the BC Civil Liberties Association. He has extensive experience with drug and criminal justice policy, working with Health Canada on matters of cannabis law reform and participating in roundtables with the Cannabis Legalization Task Force.

Regardless of your view on cannabis, this timely and informative discussion is not to be missed!

This event will be moderated by former Forum board member Aletha Humphreys, who, in addition to being the owner of Cafe Talia, has an extensive background in health and is formerly of the BC Cancer Agency.

Tickets are on sale at ArtSpring and Salt Spring Books – and at the door while quantities last. $15 – 2018 Forum Members; $20 General Public. (Students & low-income residents email saltspringforum@gmail.com.)