Highwood MLA Wayne Anderson says the new cannabis legislation introduced by the Provincial NDP Government seems rushed.

On Thursday, Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley set out legislation involving the purchasing, sale, possession and consumption of marijuana in Alberta, you can read more on that here.

Anderson says he's not sure where the NDP's priorities lie.

"They're casually mentioning that they'll be selling cannabis through private companies, and the government themselves will do an online business too. So it's kind of ironic that Federal and Provincial governments can legalize marijuana in one year but it takes them five years to get a pipeline."

A few pieces of the puzzle were left unclear after Ganley's announcement, she stated during a press conference that more details will be coming in early 2018.

Anderson says he wonders how anybody will be able to set up a private business by the Federal legalization date of July 1, 2018.

"I would not want to be in that position, you have to raise money, you've got to find a location, you've got to find investors, and find employees, and then who supplies the product to you? The government is going to act as a wholesaler to AGLC, I think that's what they're plan is. Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission will pay the wholesaler, but ironically the minister casually mentioned that this might be a money losing situation, only the government can lose money selling drugs."

He adds he hasn't heard much feedback from constituents as the announcement happened just two days ago, but he is working on collaborating with local enforcement on next steps.

"Unfortunately the Federal government has dumped this on the Provincial government, which means there's going to be an awful lot of folks that are going to be required to add to enforcement services. I am meeting the new RCMP officer that's running the Okotoks detachment just to find out about rural crime, and how they're going to be able to manage this process."

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