PENHOLD – While some municipalities in the province are banning all public consumption of cannabis -- including Innisfail and Red Deer, Penhold will allow it, albeit with a myriad of regulations and with plenty of potential confusion for citizens.
At its Sept. 10 regular meeting, Penhold town council passed its Community Standards Bylaw, which will allow public consumption of cannabis in certain parts of the town, which will be similar to existing tobacco smoking regulations.
The bylaw was passed by a close council vote of 4 - 3, and it left many councillors slamming the province, saying it has dropped the ball when it comes to regulating cannabis, which has been left to municipalities to sort out as the Oct. 17 national legalization date draws closer.
“There’s a lot of concern with exactly how it’s going to roll out, especially because there’s no consistency between municipalities, which is going to create problems for people.” ” said Mike Yargeau, Penhold mayor. “For alcohol (the province) set those rules,” said Yargeau. “Now they’ve (passed) off that responsibility to the municipalities for cannabis.
“It’s a grey area as to how do you treat it,” he added. “Do you treat it as alcohol or do you treat it as smoking, because it’s a bit of both.”
Yargeau and several council members also believe those inconsistencies in the province will make it difficult for law enforcement to enforce cannabis use in public.
“You see smoking but you can’t see what it is and how would you know what it is,” said Coun. Sharolyn Sanchez.
Coun. Mike Walsh expressed concerns over "muddying the waters" for the public.
“Forever, you have not been allowed to consume (cannabis) publicly and now we’re going to say you’re allowed to do it there but not over here,” said Walsh. “It may seem clear but people won’t know where they’re allowed and not allowed (to use it).”
He also believes cannabis should be banned in all public places.
“You cannot walk down the street with a beer in your hand and you should not be allowed to walk down the street with a joint in your hand,” said Walsh.
Coun. Ken Denson said he thinks Penhold won’t see many people smoking it in public.
“You don’t see too many people smoking a cigarette walking down the street. I think you might see it with cannabis initially, but I think you’re going to find that most people will not be smoking cannabis walking down the street,” said Denson.
Sanchez said the public will have to educate themselves and learn the regulations in each municipality.
“I believe that when it becomes legal, people are going to think it’s legal and they’re going to think they can do it wherever they want,” said Sanchez.
“It’s going to be an education process to tell them it’s the same as smoking. You can do it here, but not there.”
