Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Recently the province of Quebec elected a new government. The new government said the legal age for purchasing and consuming cannabis will be 21. The Prime Minister responded by saying that the age proposed by the premier-elect will only feed the illegal cannabis market. The Prime Minister's reason was that people in Quebec between the ages of 18 and 21 will continue to use street dealers to purchase cannabis.
Mr. Speaker, if we don't open the doors for small businesses to get into the legal distribution and selling of cannabis within our small communities, I fear we may create a similar situation. Cannabis users in small communities will not have easy access to cannabis products unless they walk down the street to buy it illegally. I realize that small communities can buy online; however, you would likely need a credit card.
Therefore, Mr. Speaker, this government must work toward creating equal access for cannabis users in small communities, as exists in larger centres with liquor stores. We also must look internally for suppliers of cannabis within the NWT. In other words, Mr. Speaker, we should be open to the idea of cultivating cannabis grow-ops within the NWT. Already there are many businesses across Canada that are growing cannabis on a mass scale to supply this country's new marketplace. We in the North, Mr. Speaker, are once again in the position where industries from outside the Northwest Territories are reaping benefits of sales made within the territory. Going forward, the NWT should seriously consider the great potential our own home-grown products can provide.
Mr. Speaker, the NWT's cannabis stock will be supplied by three southern companies. Just imagine if the majority of the territory's cannabis needs was filled by northern distributors. I truly believe that the NWT must seize the opportunity to tap into this emerging industry before we fall too far behind.
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, our government officials across the country are fearful that Canada's current stock of cannabis is too small, creating a cannabis shortage in the legal market. This also would force cannabis users to once again turn to the illegal market. Legal cannabis presents great business opportunities for people in the NWT. We cannot afford to continue to hamper the full potential of our territory. We must quickly facilitate the growth and distribution of cannabis within the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.