The Town of Canmore is looking at how the legalization of cannabis expected later this year is going to look for the community and getting ready to amend bylaws and create policies to help green light the process. On Friday (Feb.
The Town of Canmore is looking at how the legalization of cannabis expected later this year is going to look for the community and getting ready to amend bylaws and create policies to help green light the process.
On Friday (Feb. 16), the Province of Alberta announced further details of its cannabis framework, including that retail outlets would have to be set back a minimum of 100 metres from schools, and requirements for retail inspections and training for staff.
For the municipality, setback requirements are an important piece of the puzzle for drafting amendments to the Land Use Bylaw.
Manager of communications Robyn Dinnadge said a bylaw to amend the planning document is just one of several changes needed within the municipality to manage cannabis legalization.
"There is still so much we do not know about the legalization of cannabis," she told council at its February committee of the whole meeting. "There is a lot of uncertainty around the specifics and timing of federal and provincial regulations.
"In the meantime, even with the lack of clear regulations, the Town of Canmore intends to decide how to update human resources policies, the Land Use Bylaw, enforcement legislation and assess the social impact on the community."
Dinnadge said it has become evident that Bill C-45, working its way through the Senate process, won't be passed and implemented in time for a July 1, 2018 date for cannabis legalization.
The legislation from the province already sets out that cannabis would be considered legal to consume in homes and in public spaces where smoking tobacco is allowed, with a few additional restrictions, including playgrounds, sporting fields, near childcare centres, schools, hospitals or playgrounds.
For Canmore, which has a smoking bylaw, it would also be prohibited in hotel rooms, making it an important question Dinnadge said council should consider.
Special events and public consumption would also be areas where administration would be seeking public feedback in the near future. Currently, the regulations would mean it will be legal to consume cannabis at Quarry Lake, Riverside Park and the cemetery, adding to the number of places council could consider further restrictions.
"We may want to consider the needs of visitors if we want to further restrict locations where cannabis can be consumed," she said. "As you can see, there are many things to consider and we will be asking for the public's input."
She said Land Use Bylaw changes expected for council consideration would soon include defining it as a use and adding it as a discretionary use in commercial districts.
"It is proposed we will regulate cannabis retail in a similar manner to liquor stores," Dinnadge said.
A medicinal cannabis clinic recently recieved a business licence for Main Street, she added.
There are still few details around legislation for edibles and concentrates, expected from the federal government at some point in the future after federal laws come into force.
Dinnadge said cafes and lounges are not going to be permitted right away either, however, the municipality has the authority to regulate for that type of use to prepare for the future.
The province announced additional changes last week to Bill 26, the legislation setting out the framework for legalization. The changes included restrictions on ownership around retail cannabis outlets, with no one person, group or organization being permitted to own more than 15 per cent of the licences in Alberta.
The changes also required mandatory background checks for all licence applicants and store employees, mandatory training for retail employees, store hours between 10 a.m. and 2 a.m. the same as liquor stores, with municipalities able to adjust them.
Municipalities are also able to adjust the 100-metre buffer for schools and provincial health care facilities, or establish additional buffer zones to best suit the needs of the community.
"These regulations focus on keeping our communities safe, while protecting public health and promoting safety on roads, in workplaces and in public spaces," said Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Kathleen Ganley. "They'll help keep cannabis out of the hands of youth, while ensuring consumers have access to safe products no matter where they live."
The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is expected to provide details of the licencing process for retailers in the near future. Licence applications will be accepted beginning March 6. The AGLC is also responsible for online cannabis sales with details of the e-commerce site expected later this year.
The Town of Canmore, meanwhile, is looking into including medical cannabis as included for coverage under its benefits plan, and passing updated human resources policy to make it clear no employee is to be impaired in the workplace and to set out testing requirements post incident or if suspected of impairment.
The draft policy presented to council in January did not include random testing. It did, however, set out an expectation of fitness for duty for all staff.
"The draft drug and alcohol policy has been developed to address these questions and ensure the fitness to work and ensure employee and public safety," Dinnadge said.
