DIDSBURY -The Town of Didsbury has released an information sheet and survey for residents in regards to recreation cannabis.
With the federal government set to legalize recreational cannabis this year, municipalities are required to take steps to ensure their bylaws, policies and procedures are aligned with the legislation passed down.
"Through the process of public engagement, the Town of Didsbury will analyze the surveys to inform the town bylaws, policies and procedures," said Matthew Konowalchuk, Didsbury's manager of planning and development.
Bill C-45 (The Cannabis Act), which would legalize access to recreational cannabis in Canada, is currently being reviewed by the Senate of Canada. Bill C-45 would also control and regulate how cannabis is grown, distributed and sold.
The provincial government developed its own Alberta Cannabis Framework with the following policy objectives: keeping cannabis out of the hands of children and youth; protecting safety of roads, in workplaces and public spaces; protecting public health; and limiting the illegal market for cannabis.
The federal government has given municipalities the ability to alter rules and regulations to be more or less restrictive than those proposed by the federal and provincial governments. The roles and responsibilities of the legalization of cannabis by the Town of Didsbury include: education; taxation; cannabis retail and production locations and potential setbacks; consumption areas; land use zoning; and potential hours of operation.
Didsbury mayor Rhonda Hunter said the cannabis issue has been a high priority on the policy and priorities agenda for council for a while.
"The survey and the responses are the means of engagement that will provide our citizens the opportunity to provide their thoughts and input on municipal and provincial regulations that will provide us information and play an essential role in the formation of town bylaws and policies as they relate to regulated use of recreational cannabis in Didsbury," said Hunter.
The cannabis survey and information can be found at the town website as well as in paper form at the town office. Residents have until June 28 to complete the survey.
"Once the survey has run its course, which is through the month of June, survey results will be compiled," said Hunter. "Next steps will be presentations of bylaws and/or policies, which will, of course, include a public hearing as per the regular process regarding amendments to the land use bylaw process should changes to the land use bylaw be recommended for council consideration. All Canadian municipalities are working to approve specific bylaws and policies prior to Bill C-45 being enacted by the federal government, and we are anticipating that to be in the fall of 2018."
The questions include what do you feel is the adequate minimum setback distance for cannabis retail sales store to a school, park, playground, daycare facility or indoor sports facility; what do you feel is the adequate setback for a cannabis production facility to a residential subdivision; and where do you feel people should be allowed to use cannabis.
Hunter said council is open to any retail, manufacturing and production proposals and initiatives that are presented to council as long as they fit within the land use bylaw and relative policies and processes.
"Any revisions to the land use bylaw that are approved by council and are relative to legalized cannabis in our municipality will direct how our planning and development department can and will deal with and approve applications for such businesses making their home in Didsbury," she said.
