Quebec to sell cannabis through SAQ

The minimum legal age for buying cannabis in Quebec should be set at 18, and the sale of cannabis will be controlled by the Société des Alcools du Québec (SAQ) according to CBC News (reporting the words of Radio Canada).

Canada's French-speaking province will be selling legal cannabis in government-owned stalls from next summer. The number of locations has not yet been determined, but the SAQ will oversee the management of the new cannabis distribution system.

A place could be left for the private sector in cannabis distribution, without further details.

Quebec, like Ontario which set it at 19, have both replicated the legal drinking age on cannabis, despite calls from the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) to set the minimum age at 21.

Quebec's Minister of Health, Lucie Charlebois, will present the future legislation in the near future, but no specific date has yet been set.

Last Friday, Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux told the Canadian media that protecting Quebec's youth was a priority, in particular keeping them away from the black market. Martin Coiteux also took the opportunity to comment on the various fears Quebecers have about future legalization.

«It's not our decision, it's the federal government's decision. It's not necessarily the decision we would have made, but it's our responsibility to build a new framework».

Quebec is the third Canadian province to give us details of what the future cannabis market will look like within its borders. Ontario will operate in a similar fashion, with the Liquor Control Board (LCBO) overseeing the future market.

The province of New Brunswick will also sell cannabis via a state-controlled distribution system. For the first two years, all cannabis products will be supplied by two licensed producers, Canopy Growth and OrganiGram.

Edit: 15:46 on 03/10/2017, added link to Radio Canada.