Skip to content

County introduces bylaw to prohibit public cannabis use

Meredith Kerr Journal Staff The County of St. Paul gave first reading to Bylaw 2018-20 - Cannabis Consumption Bylaw during the regular council meeting on Nov. 13.
NoSmoke

Meredith Kerr
Journal Staff

The County of St. Paul gave first reading to Bylaw 2018-20 - Cannabis Consumption Bylaw during the regular council meeting on Nov. 13.

The bylaw prohibits the consumption of cannabis in public places and needs to pass second and third readings at council before it comes in to effect.

“Under the bylaw the way it’s written, you would be able to smoke at the campground stall you have rented through the county, but anywhere else in the park and anywhere else on the street, anything basically that’s outside your home or a lodging you would not be able to smoke,” said Kyle Attanasio, Director of Corporate Services for the County of St. Paul.

During discussion of the bylaw, councillors discussed the differences between bylaws passed in the Town of St. Paul and Town of Elk Point. The Town of St. Paul’s bylaw prohibits smoking and vaping in any indoor place where the public is normally invited while Elk Point’s bylaw is a blanket ban on smoking cannabis in public.

“My personal opinion is that it’s in provincial and federal jurisdictions, and by adding to it we’re just making enforcement a nightmare,” said Coun. Cliff Martin, councillor for Division 3.

“The interesting thing about cannabis is that it is an intoxicating substance, and the governments don’t allow public consumption of alcohol, so why would we?” said Maxine Fodness, deputy reeve and Division 4 councillor.

“They allow public consumption of this,” said Division 6 Coun. Lauren Amyotte.

“For now," added Division 5 Coun. Dale Hedrick, as the conversation moved around the table. "Down the road I can see them changing it because they’re going to have to classify it the same as alcohol, it can’t be the same as cigarettes."

“AHS (Alberta Heath Services) is advising municipalities to err on the side of caution rather than go by the provincial legislation,” said Fodness, before making a motion to give the bylaw first reading, and asking for a recorded vote.

The bylaw passed first reading 5-2, with Martin and Amyotte voting against the bylaw.

County of St. Paul administration will draft an addition to the bylaw detailing the penalties for consuming cannabis in a public place before it returns to council for second and third readings at the next regular meeting, scheduled for Dec. 11 at 10 a.m.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks