A public education forum on the upcoming legalization and regulation of cannabis took place August 15th from 6:30-8:30 PM at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 90 in Brantford. This forum was hosted by the Brantford-Brant Women’s Liberal Club (BBWLC), but was non-partisan in nature. 

“We wanted to give the community an opportunity to learn more about how the upcoming legalization of cannabis (taking effect on October 17th, 2018) will affect us socially, personally and professionally. We hope the forum better explained what we can expect when cannabis becomes legal, including its distribution and how strains are formulated and prescribed, in addition to potential challenges that will need to be managed as this goes into force.” said Donna Nelson, Chair of the BBWLC.

  
Panelists for the event included:
– Jodie Emery (cannabis activist and civil liberties advocate)
– Kathryn Kissinger (Brantford Human Resources Specialist)
– Jennifer Maccarone (Chief Quality Assurance/Quality Control Officer at Up Cannabis Inc. which has a production facility in Brantford) 
 
The panel discussion and Q&A was moderated by Robert Lavigne, an active local community volunteer, digital strategist and podcaster.

The panelists addressed questions that were focused on how the coming legalization and regulation of cannabis improves upon the status quo and its potential challenges and concerns. Responses focused on the effects around ones physical and mental health, safe driving, workplace safety, who should be granted licenses to legally sell cannabis, the quality controls that will exist for what is sold and to whom, and whether amnesty should be granted for those previously convicted of cannabis use once it is legal for recreational use, among other questions.
 
The event attracted more people than anticipated, and included Brantford mayor Chris Friel, mayoral candidates Kevin Davis and Dave Wrobel and candidates for city council from four of Brantford’s five wards.

This event built upon other recent public community forums in Brantford-Brant that the BBWLC and its members have organized, such as on electoral reform, combating domestic abuse, fighting back against discrimination, promoting Agriculture and the future of Pharma-care.
 
Individuals who attended the cannabis forum and all members of the Brantford-Brant public are also invited to meet with Eglinton-Lawrence MP Marco Mendicino (who also serves as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice) at a complimentary BBQ hosted by the BBWLC at Mohawk Park (Pavilion D) from 6-8 PM on Tuesday, August 21^st.
  
Individuals can RSVP for the BBQ at http://bit.ly/August21BBQ.