INNISFAIL -- Campers wanting to smoke cannabis legally for the first time at Anthony Henday Campground will have to follow special rules.
However, those rules still need to be clarified before the 2019 outdoor season begins.
The issue came up at town council's regular meeting on Feb. 25 when representatives from the Innisfail Lions Club, which has managed the campground for the past seven years, made a financial report presentation.
Tom Reinhart, a Lions Club member and manager of the campground, noted the upcoming season will be the first time the facility will have to deal with the issue but was uncertain of the rules for cannabis consumption as the town owns the campground.
"They set the rules for how we run it and so certainly we will abide with whatever they come up with. They have already set up rules for (cannabis) use in town, so that won't be any different. We are still in town," said Reinhart.
He said he expects the town to get back to the club and tell them what they have to do, and they will "do their best" to follow whatever final direction is given.
Council was told by administration the Innisfail RCMP has already directed that campers wanting to smoke cannabis must do it inside trailers, and not outside the units on the campsite. However, Todd Becker, the town's chief administrative officer, said the town will seek further clarification.
"We need to find out exactly what the new rules of the law are regarding the use of cannabis in campgrounds," said Becker, adding cannabis consumption at municipal campgrounds is an issue that crosses into federal jurisdiction. "We have a (municipal) bylaw, or whatever bylaw dictates. There is also a federal piece to it with the federal law and that is what the RCMP can outline for us. What is the definition of a lodging? Is that a campground site or is that a camper? That is what we need to determine."
Senior Innisfail RCMP officers were not immediately available for comment.
However, Mayor Jim Romane said he considers the campground to be no "less public than walking down the street."
"If you are not on your own land you are on public land," said Romane, the town's leading voice against public consumption before cannabis was legalized last Oct. 17. "I know in the (provincial) liquor act your residence is your own. You can consume alcohol in there and nobody can do anything about it, and I am sure (it's) the same thing with cannabis as long as you stay in the confines of your residence. But the land you have temporarily rented is not considered that."
However, he conceded proper research and clarification will be made on behalf of the Lions Club, with a final decision being fair.
"We will only apply the same thing to the Lions Club that we would to any other campground. We have to research this and be fair to them," said Romane.
Reinhart said once a final decision is made on cannabis consumption at the campground the new rules will be posted as an information notice in the campground office for guests when they check in.
