A Yellowknife resident says the federal governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 proposed tax regime for legal cannabis is SA国际影视传媒渉eftySA国际影视传媒� and could be a turn off for people who are already familiar with black market prices.

The federal finance department Nov. 10 released a proposed excise duty framework for cannabis, which is set to be legalized next July.

In addition to GST and HST, it suggests adding an excise tax of $1 per gram of cannabis or 10 per cent of the sale price, depending on which is higher.

Excise taxes would be paid by manufacturers, not consumers, the document states, with tax revenues being split evenly between the federal and territorial or provincial governments.

SA国际影视传媒淚f the idea is to remove it from the black market SA国际影视传媒� I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know,SA国际影视传媒� said Kim MacNearney, a licensed medical marijuana user and cannabis consultant who helps others apply for medical use. SA国际影视传媒淭hat seems pretty heavy, honestly, at the end of the day.SA国际影视传媒�

She speculated the excise tax might not deter new consumers who have never bought marijuana from the black market before.

SA国际影视传媒淏ut then thereSA国际影视传媒檚 totally still going to be this other crowd thatSA国际影视传媒檚 like, SA国际影视传媒榊a, ISA国际影视传媒檝e been buying from my buddy for 10 years for $10 and I like that.SA国际影视传媒�

It could also SA国际影视传媒渃hew awaySA国际影视传媒� at producersSA国际影视传媒� profits, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淔ederally speaking, the government needs to have a lot more suppliers and producers SA国际影视传媒� and that doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 seem like a good incentive to get people on board more,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The excise tax would also be applied to medical marijuana, something MacNearney disagrees with.

SA国际影视传媒淚 am personally not a fan of that kind of attitude,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚f youSA国际影视传媒檝e been ascribed medically, then thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a reason for that. A lot of people who use it medically, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a significant portion of them that are on disability and low income because they canSA国际影视传媒檛 work for those reasons.SA国际影视传媒�

Some provinces arenSA国际影视传媒檛 too happy about the federal governmentSA国际影视传媒檚 tax plan either.

Last week, AlbertaSA国际影视传媒檚 finance minister lambasted the idea that cannabis tax revenues be shared evenly with the federal government, suggesting instead that Alberta should keep it all.

But the GNWT didnSA国际影视传媒檛 have an official position on whether or not the proposed 50/50 split is fair when questioned about the topic Nov. 15.

SA国际影视传媒淭he GNWT is still considering the federal proposal for cannabis taxation and discussions between the federal, provincial and territorial finance ministers are ongoing,SA国际影视传媒� stated Todd Sasaki, spokesperson for the Finance Department, in an emailed statement. SA国际影视传媒淯ntil decisions are made, it would be premature to comment any further.SA国际影视传媒�

The federal government is taking written feedback on the proposal until Dec. 7.

At the same time, the GNWT has been working on a legislative proposal for review by cabinet and a standing committee of MLAs, said Mark Aitken, assistant deputy justice minister, in a late October interview.

He anticipated at the time that a bill could be introduced in the February-March sitting of the legislative assembly.

SA国际影视传媒淩ealistically, we have to hit that timeline, because the assembly and the standing committees have to have an opportunity to review the bill,SA国际影视传媒� said Aitken. SA国际影视传媒淲e have to have it enacted by June if weSA国际影视传媒檙e to have our scheme in place for the July coming into force of the federal legislation.SA国际影视传媒�

A report outlining the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 general direction on cannabis legalization is expected to be released shortly, department spokesperson Sue Glowach confirmed.