Hastings and Prince Edward Public Health wants a piece of marijuana revenues.
This comes as the province has announced it will give health units resources to address local needs related to cannabis legalization. HPEPH Public Health and Preventative Medicine Resident Piotr Oglaza calls this a very broad statement. He says it’s unclear if that means permanent funding will be added to health unit budgets, or if any extra money will have to be applied for.
Oglaza says it will cost quite a bit of money to introduce prevention, treatment, and enforcement initiatives once pot is legalized this summer.
Oglaza says public education campaigns will also be a big part of the legalization process. He says it will be important to let youth know about the dangers of smoking pot.
Public education campaigns will also focus on the side effects of smoking pot and the dangers of impaired driving.