The Manitoba government says it wants a cut from the sale of legal recreational marijuana.

Retailers will be asked to pay six percent of their gross sales.

Justice Minister Cliff Cullen says the money, which he calls a social responsibility fee, will go into a fund that will help pay for health and safety programs.

“I think we all recognize there will be some social costs to cannabis whether it be hospitalization or through the justice system. Clearly, we have been investing money into education to make sure people understand the potential dangers of cannabis and, for us as a government, there will be costs associated with cannabis use.”

Cullen says it’s about health and safety and the province wants to recover some of those costs so that the people using cannabis are Paying for those additional social costs. “What we have implemented is a six percent social responsibility fee to the retailers and they will be responsible for remitting six percent of their gross sales back to the government of Manitoba.”

With cannabis becoming legal just over a month ago Cullen says it is too early to predict what the six percent will generate for the province.

“Our sales are just ramping up here in Manitoba and we have 14 cannabis outlets with more set to open in the new years.”

The legislature was introduced into the legislature on Thursday and if passed would go into effect in January.