The City of Colwood is calling on the provincial government to help fund some of the costs associated with the upcoming legalization of marijuana.

In a letter submitted to the province, the City expressed concern about the B次元官网网址渄ownloading of responsibilities and costs associated with the legalization of non-medical cannabis,B次元官网网址� and costs related to training, staff and the effect on RCMP services for local residents.

B次元官网网址淲e werenB次元官网网址檛 hearing anything about those extra costs that may be passed along to communities. If thereB次元官网网址檚 licensing that has to be done, if weB次元官网网址檙e going to be responsible for inspections,B次元官网网址� Mayor Carol Hamilton said.

B次元官网网址淭here could be policing costs to be incurred, not only for training purposes to be able to manage and deal with this. WeB次元官网网址檙e looking for assurances that these kinds of things are being looked at when they make the rules.B次元官网网址�

Colwood was one of many municipalities across B.C., including Kelowna and Terrace, that sent letters to the province recently, asking for 50 per cent of the provincial share of the cannabis tax sharing formula be provided to local governments.

RELATED: Ottawa willing to give more pot tax revenue to provinces to help cities

Late last year, the federal and provincial governments struck a deal in which Ottawa committed to a 75-25 split (the province would get most of the revenue) of tax revenues from cannabis sales, which equates to one dollar per gram, or 10 per cent of the producer price, whichever is greater.

Once the deal has been finalized, it will be the provinceB次元官网网址檚 responsibility to determine how the revenue will be split.

B次元官网网址淭he federal and provincial governments intend to keep cannabis taxes low to support the objective of reducing illicit market activity. As such, it is expected that cannabis taxation revenues will not generate significant provincial revenues,B次元官网网址� said Finance Minister Carole James in a response letter to the City dated March 12.

B次元官网网址淲e will be able to have more informed discussions once full details of the regulatory and taxation regimes are known and governments have more certainty in terms of expected future costs and revenues.B次元官网网址�

Locally, Hamilton hopes the costs of regulating marijuana doesnB次元官网网址檛 fall solely on the municipalityB次元官网网址檚 shoulders.

B次元官网网址淲e reiterate the fact that municipalities arenB次元官网网址檛 always the best suited to handle the extra costs as they arise, so consideration should be given for that to happen at a higher level,B次元官网网址� she said.

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kendra.wong@goldstreamgazette.com