Cannabis consumption in the MD of Bonnyville is still up for discussion, after council decided to wait to pass third reading of the bylaw.
In an effort to give themselves and residents more time to consider the regulations around the public consumption of cannabis, MD council passed first and second reading during their Wednesday, March 27 meeting, but decided to hold off on passing the bylaw until next month.
Director of public safety Chris Garner explained how the MD’s bylaw is on-par with other communities.
“It’s a fairly standard bylaw that most municipalities are adopting… We’re all pretty much doing the same thing,” he noted during the MD council meeting on Wednesday, March 27. “I think this is something that’s new. We’re bringing in a bylaw and if we do need to make adjustments and amendments, we can certainly do that once we start using it and seeing how it’s going.”
Following discussions, the MD has decided to take a stricter approach, treating cannabis similarly to alcohol.
Users can’t consume cannabis in any public place, including roads, parks, and campgrounds.
There is, however, an exception for their municipally-run campsites.
According to Garner, the public is allowed to consume cannabis inside of their RV if they’re parked in a MD of Bonnyville campsite.
They aren’t however, allowed to smoke it outside of their trailer.
The bylaw also explains how users can consume the drug on their own or private property.
“If you’re allowed to do it inside of the camper, you should be allowed to do it in the (camping) stall,” expressed Coun. Mike Krywiak, who felt the bylaw should be amended.
In Coun. Marc Jubinville’s opinion, users should be permitted to smoke it on their campsite whether they’re inside their RV or not, or not at all.
“If you’re having a campfire and you want to smoke a little cannabis, I don’t think it’s going to be a big issue,” he added.
Coun. Dana Swigart disagreed.
He explained how when he’s camping, especially with children, how the smell of cannabis can be aggravating.
“It’s not a nice smell.”
If someone is caught violating the bylaw by consuming cannabis in a public place or in a vehicle, they’re facing a $400 fine.
Proprietors and employers failing to prohibit the use of the drug in a public place, or not posting the proper signage in accordance to the bylaw, could end up paying $200 in fines.
Swigart felt that even once the bylaw is passed, “it’s not going to be enforced unless someone complains.”
“As a lot of bylaw issues are, they’re complaint-driven,” stated Garner.
Jubinville and Krywiak were against the bylaw passing first and second reading. Final reading will be made during their next council meeting.
