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Updated Red Deer smoke free bylaw to ban smoking cannabis in public

Smoke Free Bylaw returns to Red Deer city council Sept. 4
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Red Deer city council will consider second and third readings of amendments to the city’s Smoke Free Bylaw on Sept. 4. (File photo by BLACK PRESS)

Whether or not people will be able to smoke cannabis in public places for medical purposes in Red Deer is up in the air.

Monday, council passed first reading of amendments to the city’s Smoke Free Bylaw that proposed prohibiting smoking or vaping cannabis in public places unless people have cannabis medical documents.

But a request was also passed for administration to complete a report for council in regards to prohibiting medical cannabis smoking in public because of concerns raised by Alberta Health Services. The report is due when the bylaw returns for second and third reading Sept. 4.

Administration will also provide a report looking at prohibiting cannabis smoking or vaping indoors in multi-unit residences.

Coun. Vesna Higham said she looked forward to both reports because of the impact of cannabis smoking and vaping on other citizens. Meanwhile, cannabis users will still be able to use other forms of cannabis.

Higham said the municipality is trying to do the best it can to mitigate some of the negative impacts of the federal government’s decision to legalize marijuana.

“My own personal opinion is this is one of the worst pieces of federal legislation that has come down from any government at least in my lifetime that I recall,” Higham said.

“The rationale the federal government provided for legalizing marijuana was first of all to keep it out of the hands of youth, and second of all to destroy or put a dent in the black market sale of cannabis. When you look at what’s happening in other jurisdictions, not only is that not being accomplished, it seems to have the opposite effect where more youth are consuming it and there is a higher amount of black market sales because of the taxing,” Higham said.

Mayor Tara Veer said council is exploring some of the challenges in the competition of rights that cannabis presents, and Red Deerians will have two weeks to respond to the issues council will consider Sept. 4.

“People will have the right to consumption, but the challenge from a public policy perspective is people also have the right not be exposed to it if they choose not to, so we’re really just trying to find the right balance,” Veer said.

“Because this is so new across the country, we do the best that we can and fully recognize this will likely not be the only time that we visit it, but will by necessity need to be responsive in the future as well.”



szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com

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