With the potential legalization of cannabis fast approaching, residents will have the opportunity to see what it means for their community.
On Wednesday, May 16, the Town of Bonnyville will be hosting a cannabis legislation open house to provide information on what’s being proposed, and garner feedback from the public on what the municipal regulations should look like. From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the town hall council chambers, senior administration will be on-hand to discuss the matter with residents.
“We’re going to set up some story boards. They’ll include maps of what we’re proposing to do, and what council is seeking feedback on based on all of the items that have been presented to council over the past meetings related to the cannabis issue,” explained CAO Mark Power.
He added, “We’re going to have exactly what the provincial and federal government has put out, what we know today, and then what council is considering, what we’re looking for feedback on.”
Throughout the past couple of months, council has had discussions on a number of bylaws and regulations relating to the consumption and sale of cannabis. While some direction and rules are coming from the federal and provincial governments, the town is required to update their land-use bylaw, business license bylaw, community standards bylaw, and smoking bylaw.
In previous discussions, council agreed to show the public different buffer zones between cannabis retail outlets and schools and provincial healthcare facilities. While the minimum set requirement is 100-metres, municipalities can choose to enforce a greater separation distance.
To present at the open house, council also decided on listing cannabis retail in the land-use bylaw as discretionary use in commercial and industrial zones. For signage and opening hours, they were in agreement with what’s being set out by the province. The Alberta Liquor and Gaming Commission (ALGC) has restricted marijuana stores to the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
During their most recent council meeting on May 8, discussions were had around the consumption of cannabis, specifically fines and restrictions on where it can smoked.
For the meantime, cannabis is going to be covered under the current smoke free places bylaw, which outlines a fine of $200 for the first offence, and a fine between $200 and $2,500 for second and subsequent offences. Like cigarettes, marijuana can’t be smoked within 10-metres of any public play area, such as park or splash pad, or sports field.
However, it’s still up in the air on whether or not higher levels of government will implement stricter rules on smoking marijuana in public.
Mayor Gene Sobolewski noted that while council is hoping to garner lots of feedback from the public through the open house, it’s not about debating the federal and provincial mandates.
“We have to make sure that what we’re getting is based on the facts, this is going to be a passionate issue... The federal government, probably, is going to regulate it as permissible to smoke in public. If they say yes, then it’s up to the town to say where it’s permissible. If they say nope, you can’t consume it in public, it’s a no-brainer.”
He reminded that the municipal regulations up for discussion at the open house are all just starting points, as the issue of recreational cannabis is as new to town council as it is to the public.
“We’re all going to be trying to collaboratively figure out what’s best to do for our community. But we have to be careful; we have to stay within the confines of what’s legal and what’s not. I think we’ve moved beyond whether or not our town should be cannabis free.”
Following the open house, town administration will be summarizing the responses from the public and presenting that information to council in preparation of drafting the bylaws related to cannabis.
“We’re going to be coming up with some new questions that we’re going to be asking council in written form... Whatever (answers) have the majority, that’s the way the bylaw will be presented to council. Then you can have a debate about that,” Power explained, noting the plan is to have the first reading of the bylaws presented to council for May 22.
The open house is a chance for the town to gather informal feedback from residents. After the first reading of the bylaws, there will be the necessary public hearing. At that time, residents can voice their input on the regulations in a formal setting. From there, council can make amendments before going to second reading.
The Wednesday open house will be set up in a come-and-go format, with no formal presentation. Anyone unable to attend, who would like to discuss the matter of cannabis consumption and retail within the town, can contact director of planning and development Katherine Currie at 780-826-3496 or email [email protected].
