Bonnyville town council is in agreement when it comes to the operating hours for cannabis retail outlets.
Council continued their discussion on developing proposed municipal regulations for the sale and consumption of recreational marijuana during their March 27 meeting. There was a consensus around the table that the rules being implemented by the Alberta Liquor and Gaming Commission (AGLC) restricting retail outlets to the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. would be sufficient.
"For myself, is there any need to go with tighter hours? I don't believe so," said Mayor Gene Sobolewski. "If there's going to be issues, likely there's going to be something that will be adopted province-wide... I'm okay with using what's set by the AGLC."
Coun. Ray Prevost added, "I think it comes down to the reality that this is a legal business, just like any other business, come July 1 or shortly thereafter. If the AGLC says 2 a.m. then it's no different than a liquor store, they should be able to go until 2 a.m."
As with other aspects of recreational marijuana, municipalities have the ability to modify the hours cannabis retail stores can operate so long as they at least meet the minimum requirements set out by the governing body, in this case the AGLC.
AHS has also made recommendations on the issue, suggesting municipalities "limit hours of operation to limit availability late at night and early morning hours."
"We're preparing the bylaw for the open house and then, based on the results of the open house, a bylaw will come before council and there will be a public hearing on it," explained CAO Mark Power. "We're just looking for guidance on what the bylaw is going to look like when it's prepared for the open house."
The open house, which is expected to take place in early May, will be an opportunity for residents to get a look at the proposed municipal regulations and provide their feedback. In addition to the hours of operation, council previously decided to present two potential distances for buffer zones between healthcare facilities and schools, listing it as a discretionary use for zoning, and sticking with the government's rules on signage.
"The pushback is that it's not up to council to regulate how many or who can and who can't, that's not our role, it's the land use bylaw. If there's four or five that beat down our door, it's all about the market research and whether they survive or they don't, that part of it is somebody else's business plan," noted Sobolewski. "We're here to support any and all businesses because that's what a vibrant community is all about."
For Coun. Elisa Brosseau, a recent trip south of the border put into perspective what it's like being in a community where recreational marijuana is legal.
"We were staying in a town that didn't accept retail outlets, there were no dispensaries. But, you could drive 40 minutes down the road to the next town and purchase it... If you can buy it down the road and smoke it, that's not going to stop it from being in your community."
She added, "I know some of the comments are that the odour is going to be so bad. We honestly only smelled it twice, and once was at a zoo so I don't know if it was an actual skunk or not. For it being legal there, we never really smelled it, we weren't walking through big clouds of smoke."
During their meeting, council was also presented with the proposed definition for terms related to cannabis, including an amendment to the existing definition for greenhouse and plant nurseries to specifically state facilities using that term do not include cannabis production.
"We've come up with a proposed application form, under the land use bylaw, for when somebody wants to locate a cannabis retail sales outlet. It also incorporates the sign regulation," said Power. "We're going to include the permit for the sign with the application for the store. That's one of the small difference between the normal application for a development permit versus an application for cannabis retail sales."
Even following the open house and readings of the bylaws, council recognized that future changes to legislation at the federal and provincial level could alter any regulations put in by the town.
