Village of Hussar Cannabis Legalization Workbook WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? The Village could pass a bylaw that would forbid consumption of cannabis (other than for medical purposes) on public property. This would apply to all Village-owned property, including the arena lawn, campground, and other parks spaces not currently covered under provincial or federal legislation. It could also apply to the Hall as well as other public spaces including sidewalks and roads. However, as we can only restrict cannabis use based on public health and safety of youth, and not on moral grounds, it is generally suggested by legal counsel that a bylaw of this type also include the smoking of tobacco. QUESTION Do you think that consumption of cannabis and tobacco should be forbidden on public property within the Village? Please provide us with at least one reason for your opinion. Do you think it should be for certain properties within the Village, or should it include all public spaces? _____________________________________________________________________________________ The background information states that "... it is generally suggested by legal counsel that a bylaw of this type also include the smoking of tobacco ...". I am not knowledgable about this issue, but I feel that equal treatment for [cannabis,tobacco] is a MINIMUM starting point for the bylaws. _____________________________________________________________________________________ My concern is over the use of cannabis in the parking lots and grounds of the [Community Hall, Arena,Campground,baseball diamonds]. I would prefer that the cannabis ban be applicable to ALL public property (including streets), such that its use is restricted to private property only. Howevrer, I suspect thatmay not hold up in courts? _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 6 Village of Hussar Cannabis Legalization Workbook Retail Sales FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL LEGISLATION Individuals may purchase cannabis products through privately owned and operated specialized retailers. The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) will regulate retail licensing and licensees must follow rules set by government, which include where stores can be located, hours of operation, physical store requirements, age of staff and staff training. The maximum hours of operation for cannabis retail stores will be aligned with the limits for alcohol retail stores (10 a.m. – 2 a.m.) MUNICIPAL POWERS Municipalities will continue to have the authority to set the development rules for new cannabis developments in their existing land use bylaws, and to make decisions on development applications relating to cannabis retail locations. Municipalities will have discretion to vary certain rules to be either more restrictive than the regulations set by the province. For example, based on local requirements municipalities could create more restrictive hours of operation for cannabis stores, or they could establish further distances from schools and other sensitive use areas. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? The Village will be determining where cannabis retails stores can be located. For instance, they can be only allowed in our industrial area (on the south side of the railway tracks), in our commercial areas, or anywhere within the Village. They can also be either a permitted or discretionary use within those areas. A permitted use would be automatically allowed, as long as all other requirements are meant; a discretionary use would require council approval and would include an appeal period for any residents who feel their property will be negatively affected by a business in the proposed location. (Please note than an appeal cannot be made on moral grounds or based on stereotypes). QUESTION Should the Village allow cannabis retail stores, and if so, which areas of the Village should they be located? Should this be a permitted or discretionary use requiring council approval? Should the hours of operation be less than the provincial regulation, and if so, what hours would be appropriate? Please provide reasons for your answers. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Cannabis sales, if permitted, should ONLY be allowed in the one convenience store in Hussar! We need to support our local businesses, and the proposed restriction to "specialised stores" won't last long in my opinion. So just ban sales in Hussar for now, and consider sales in existing businesses if and when "non-specialised" stores are permitted. ___________________________________________ Page 3 of 6 Village of Hussar Cannabis Legalization Workbook Cannabis Production FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL LEGISLATION The Alberta government is responsible for regulating the distribution and retail system for non-medical cannabis and the federal government is responsible for developing, licensing and regulating cannabis production facilities. MUNICIPAL POWERS As with retail establishments, municipalities can determine if and where cannabis production facilities (greenhouses) are to be located. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? The Village will be determining where cannabis production facilities can be located. For instance, they can be only allowed in our industrial area (on the south side of the railway tracks), in our commercial areas, or anywhere within the Village. They can also be either a permitted or discretionary use within those areas. A permitted use would be automatically allowed, as long as all other requirements are meant; a discretionary use would require council approval and would include an appeal period for any residents who feel their property will be negatively affected by a business in the proposed location. (Please note than an appeal cannot be made on moral grounds or based on stereotypes). As additional information, any applications for these types of facilities would not be approved within the Village. This is based solely on the fact that we could not provide a sufficient amount of water under our current system. However, we are required to look to the future and not just at current restrictions. Page 4 of 6 Village of Hussar Cannabis Legalization Workbook QUESTION Should the Village allow cannabis production facilities in the future, and if so, which areas of the Village should they be located? Should this be a permitted or discretionary use requiring council approval? Please provide reasons for your answers. _____________________________________________________________________________________ YES - We could use the jobs & taxes, and the production of marijuana won't increase local use (any operation would depend olmost entirely on large urban markets!). If we don't have the jobs, someone else will. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Enforcement Federal, provincial and municipal governments will share responsibility for enforcing cannabis-related offences. The federal government has introduced legislation that makes changes to impaired driving laws in the Criminal Code. It is working on the approval of roadside screening devices that will assist law enforcement officers in addressing drug-impaired driving. The Alberta government is continuing to work with the federal government to ensure there is adequate support for law enforcement training and equipment. Municipalities will be responsible for enforcing municipal guidelines and bylaws created within their jurisdictions. This includes areas where municipalities have created rules above and beyond the minimum requirements set by the province. At this time the Village is not including controls on private property due to its inability to enforce these properly. Some of these additional controls include development permits related to the home cultivation of cannabis and nuisances related to odours. Page 5 of 6 Village of Hussar Cannabis Legalization Workbook If you have any concerns or comments related to enforcement, or any other comments or questions related to cannabis legalization, please include them in the space provided below. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS _____________________________________________________________________________________ I think this whole issue is window-dressing by promoters of cannabis to give the appearance that they will enforce responsible use, which is a lie. The cat is out of the bag - our governments were useless to control illegal use of cannabis, now that it's legalised they are only creating [huge,expensive,self-sustaining] bureaucracies that will be ineffective. Tobacco use is restrained by people's good will, with police backup. The same will happen with cannabis, but hopefully the [stench,secondary effects] will make reactions and social-control (as opposed to government control) much more limiting for cannabis. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 6 of 6