With the dawn of legalized cannabis quickly approaching as well as the Trans Mountain Pipeline plans, many opinions and thoughts on the topic continue to circulate.

Originally on hand at the Central Alberta Middle School in Red Deer on Friday to speak to the 2019 Canada Winter Games Host Society, Senator Doug Black shared his opinion on both topics.

When asked about the Trans Mountain Pipeline project, he stated that the biggest challenge was not the finance, but rather those opposing the project.

"It is a very complicated project to get built because there's a number of environmentalist groups and first nations groups who are opposed to the pipelines".

Joining the opposition, according to Black, the government of BC has played a key role in delaying the process of the pipeline, so the senator took action by sponsoring Bill s-245.

"It is an important thing because it prevents BC from continuing to play their games," he says.

The Bill states that the Trans Mountain Pipeline project and related works are for the general advantage of Canada.

Black says Bill s-245 will be having its second reading on June 22.

With respect to the legalization of cannabis, the senator shared a very practical opinion.

"It takes away from the 'bad guys' a multi-billion dollar industry."

Black believes legalization will direct this previously illegal revenue to the government, which can be used for the benefit of society.

Additionally, he believes that the legalization process will, in fact, help the younger people of today's society.

He stated that it is hard enough for young people to get ahead these days, and the last thing they need on top of that is a cannabis-related criminal record.

He believes legalization process will end that.

The senator claims to have read statistics that estimate the cannabis industry will surpass the liquor industry by 2020.