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Bashaw considering public consumption ban on cannabis

Council choosing easiest option for enforcement and protection of youth
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Consumption of cannabis products such as this one pictured may soon be limited to private property should the bylaw being drafted for Bashaw town council be approved. Black Press file

To toke or not to toke, that is one question that remains unanswered by Bashaw council.

That being said, at its Oct. 18 meeting, council — with Coun. Lynn Schultz absent — directed administration to draft a bylaw that would place a ban on the public consumption of cannabis.

Before the subject was opened up to discussion, CAO Theresa Fuller outlined what has been looked at so far and Bashaw RCMP Sgt. Bruce Holliday was given the floor to provide his opinion on the subject, as the police would be the ones tasked with enforcement.

Presently, the town has regulations in place through its recent land use bylaw amendments, plus the development permit process. Those regulations control any potential retail operation that may come in the future. In addition, there are provincial setbacks for not consuming within 100 metres of the boundaries of land designated for health care facilities and schools.

Holliday explained a full ban on public use would make it easier for officers to enforce as police don’t want to be pulling out tape measures to see if people are complying with the rules.

“It would have been easier if the province tied it to the liquor act — if you are not allowed to drink beer there, then you can’t smoke cannabis there either. It would be clear,” said Holliday.

“That’s why we are seeing municipalities having to decide yes or no to public use.”

However, there is now a chance that every town, village and county in the Bashaw detachment coverage area could set a different set of rules.

“That would mean a lot of work for the members — needing to know what rules are in place for where they are.”

In his opinion, a ban on public consumption would be the best way to go — for Bashaw and elsewhere — for consistency and for the safety of young people.

“With public use, we run into situations such as with the community centre here — a library, a play school, the arena next door — all of which are frequented by young children. That complicates the issue along with enforcement because much of it comes down to distances,” he noted.

“Especially in the early stages, it’s going to be a significant challenge to deal with. I believe it’s easier to loosen restrictions than try to tighten them up after a while. That would be my suggestion.”

Holliday did add that, even if a bylaw is put into place, officers would undertake a period of voluntary compliance and education considering how fast all of this has occurred.

Councillors at the meeting agreed that a ban is what should be done, with Coun. Darren Pearson noting it would eliminate any grey area.

“Also, it would be easier for people coming in to know there is no public consumption rather than you can here, but not there,” said Coun. Rosella Peterman. “It would be confusing enough for our own residents.

Meanwhile, Coun. Rob McDonald stated, “It doesn’t matter what we do or don’t do, in some people’s eyes, we are going to get it wrong.”

Along with drafting a bylaw — which would include details such as defining public spaces and penalties — administration will also undertake installing signage at select locations denoting no cannabis use is allowed and look into ensuring town rental and lease agreements include language stating something similar for its facilities.

McDonald also asked administration to touch base with other communities in the region to encourage them to join in a ban on public use in order to provide the RCMP with a level of consistent enforcement.

No date has been scheduled for the draft bylaw to be back before council, though Fuller added there will be a need to engage residents and other stakeholders on the subject as local ownership of the community is important to a lot of residents.



jordie.dwyer@ponokanews.com

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