Quebec clarifies pot remarks, says it’s willing to discuss matter with Ottawa

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Quebec’s finance minister has softened his tone with regard to the role his government will play if and when marijuana is legalized and regulated by Ottawa.

Carlos Leitao said Thursday that Quebec wanted nothing to do with selling marijuana and that Ottawa “should figure out on its own” how to eventually distribute pot on Quebec territory.

Later that day Leitao took to Facebook to clarify his remarks, saying he spoke a little too quickly.

“The choice regarding means of distributing (marijuana) in Quebec is a debate that is very premature,” he said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to legalize marijuana in order to make it more difficult for children to purchase as well as to decrease pot revenue streams to organized criminals.

Trudeau said he’ll work with local authorities to come up with distribution methods, which could vary from province to province.

Leitao said the federal government still needs to come up with legislation on legalization in order to clarify the rules.

“There will certainly be time for exchanges between the federal government and provinces on this issue,” he wrote.