NB Liquor remaining mum on marijuana legalization

NB Liquor is not commenting after the federal marijuana legislation task force recommended that marijuana not be sold alongside alcohol if at all possible.

"It would be premature for ANBL to comment as it has not been determined who will be the retailer of cannabis in [New Brunswick]," wrote NB Liquor spokesman Mark Barbour in an email to CBC.

The task force, which released its recommendations for marijuana legalization Tuesday, recommended against selling marijuana in the same location as alcohol.

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"No co-location of alcohol or tobacco and cannabis sales, wherever possible. When co-location cannot be avoided, appropriate safeguards must be put in place," states the report.

While the government admits that would be difficult in small and remote communities, the task force believes it's important to avoid the public perception that the government is encouraging the dual consumption of alcohol and marijuana.

"While there is little research to confirm that there is a direct correlation between co-location and co-use, a precautionary approach, combined with the example of how other governments have dealt with this issue, supports reducing possible risks by banning co-location of sales wherever possible," states the report.

NB Liquor CEO Brian Harriman headed a panel looking at selling marijuana at liquor stores for the Canadian Association of Liquor Jurisdictions, the national body that represents provincial liquor control agencies.

The association was to present its report to the respective provincial governments. The document would be considered advice to minister and wouldn't be released publicly.

The Trudeau government is expected to introduce legislation to legalize marijuana in the spring of 2017.