Nova Scotia, a province on Canada’s eastern shore, announced on Thursday the Nova Scotia Liquor Corp., its alcohol distributor, would sell cannabis in its stores and on its website once social legalization takes off in July 2018.

“The NSLC has the experience and expertise to distribute and sell restricted products like alcohol and now cannabis in a socially responsible way,” Justice Minister Mark Furey said at a press conference. “We believe the NSLC is best positioned to sell cannabis, keeping it out of the hands of young people and making it legally available in a safe, regulated way.”

“In our view, this is the right road, we think the government has made the right decision, and we affirm it,” New Democratic Party leader Gary Burrill said.

However, experts believe selling cannabis in liquor stores may induce those recovering from alcoholism to purchase the drug.

“Does it increase or decrease cannabis consumption and alcohol consumption to have the two together?” asked Mark Haden, a professor of public policy at the University of British Columbia School of Population and Public Health. He called the whole issue a “debate with no evidence” at this point.

Residents in Nova Scotia will be allowed to possess 30 grams and to grow up to four plants per household. The legal age limit in the province for cannabis use will be 19.

The 10 provinces in Canada will be able to make their own decisions on where they will sell the drug, how much residents can have and what the legal parameters around its dispensaries are, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Similarly, Ontario is planning to sell cannabis in liquor stores.

More than 31,000 Nova Scotians completed an online survey in regard to legal age limit, public consumption, distribution and impaired driving. Nearly 150 people also participated in focus groups. Of those surveyed, 56 percent said they preferred standalone stores over a two-in-one combination of liquor and cannabis shops.