Ontario Premier Wynne calls Tory leader Doug Ford’s comments on pot ‘reckless’
TORONTO — Selling legal pot somewhere other than government-run stores in Ontario would be “reckless,” the province’s premier said Wednesday, slamming comments from Tory leader Doug Ford, who said he’d be open to greater privatization of cannabis sales.
Kathleen Wynne, whose Liberals face an election this spring, said the concept of wider retail access to recreational marijuana would upset parents who want strict controls in place when the drug is legalized later this year.
“I think that a lot of parents would have concern about cannabis being available beside candy bars in corner stores,” she said. “I think there would be a recklessness to doing what Doug Ford is suggesting.”
Ford, who was narrowly elected leader of the province’s Progressive Conservatives late Saturday, has told media outlets he’s open to greater privatization of marijuana sales, adding that the government should move slowly on the issue.