Chris Lowrey
QUEBEC CITY Dec. 1 , 2017
The Federation of Quebec Municipalities (FQM) has given the province and the federal government a warning that municipalities deserve a fair share of the expected revenue windfall that will come with the legalization of cannabis next year.
The FQM made the request before the Health and Social Services Committee in Quebec City.
The FQM wants 33 per cent of the revenues from cannabis sales at the newly created Quebec Cannabis Society (CSQ).

“Bottom line is that the proceeds from the sale of cannabis must be distributed in a fair process,” said FQM president Richard Lehoux.
Lehoux said that many of the enforcement responsibilities – like policing the prohibition on home grown cannabis and enforcing rules around where people can toke up – will be shouldered by municipalities.
Municipalities across the province are still dealing with budget deliberations in a short time period as a result of the recently-concluded municipal elections.
Many municipalities are concerned that their local police forces will spend more money policing the newly legal drug.
The FQM also asked the province to set up an advisory committee so that municipalities can have a voice when it comes to implementing the rules around legalized cannabis.
“Municipalities will be at the forefront of the legalization of cannabis,” Lehoux said. “They will be in the best position to report on enforcement issues.”