I suspect the provincial governments will understand that even though they would like a private ownership model, that the main objected of legalization is to completely remove the criminal element from cannabis from seed to sale. Alberta has a private liqueur store model, open til 2am seven days a week. But that didn't happen overnight post prohibition. And, as a matter of fact, the municipalities like Edmonton require a lot of extra law enforcement to continuously curb illegal alcohol sales out of the very same private system, like the pizza store delivering boxes full of mickeys with pizza orders. This would never happen in the LCBO.
The recreational cannabis industry is going to have to earn the trust of the public to be able to either police itself, like the MMPR, or lose that trust by criminal association like the MMAR.
Of course there's a lot of folks in the private dispensary model that are not associated with underworld trade, but that doesn't matter when the city is looking for a model that contains the entire industry without undue strain on resources.
Vancouver may keep their current model, but think about how, when cannabis is legal and the liberal government strongly recommends or enforces regulation, how the Grow will be resourced? LP's.
The city's are in favor or tax revenue. And I Highly doubt they will allow a billion dollar legal business to skirt paying taxes just cause cannabis is cool. The supply chain must be regulated so the whole society shares the gains and not just the underworld.
I mean, it's as if some people want a Liberal Social Government, but operate a conservative republic cannabis store? Can we say oxymoron
