Mixed bag on toking at range of outdoor events

Legal marijuana presents new challenge for organizers of city’s summer festivals

In the first summer of legal pot, Edmontonians will see a mixed bag of smoking regulations at the city’s popular festivals as organizers grapple with the goal of making an enjoyable atmosphere for all attendees.

The kid-favourite K-days set to kickoff Friday is the only major festival that will continue to offer seven tobacco-smoking areas, but prohibit cannabis consumption.

“As an all-ages family event, cannabis consumption is not permitted on the grounds,” Northlands spokeswoman Mackenzie Parish said in an email. “All gates will have clear signage indicating ‘Possession is permitted, No Consumption.’”

This “double standard” doesn’t sit well with advocates from Action on Smoking and Health, citing city council’s decision to harmonize the restrictions surrounding cannabis and tobacco smoking.

“We can’t support a double standard, especially if the intent is to protect kids from exposure to harmful drugs. How is tobacco not a harmful drug?” executive director Les Hagen said. “I was hoping that K-days and others would see this as an opportunity to become a healthy role model in the community.”

Two of the city’s non-smoking parks will get their first whiff of weed as festivals in Hawrelak and Gallagher Parks intend to offer designated smoking areas, encompassing tobacco and cannabis smoking as well as vaping.

The Edmonton Folk Music Festival, running Aug. 8-11, hopes to have three fenced-in smoking zones spread around Gallagher Park, one more than festivals prior to cannabis legalization.

Festival producer Terry Wickham said he is currently in talks with the city for approval of the three sites and their exact locations.

Spread of second-hand smoke is a paramount concern and Wickham said the intent of the smoking zones is to remove illegal smoking on the grounds or in the surrounding neighbourhood of Cloverdale that might be closer to children.

“We’re trying to make it comfortable and available and so it’s not bothering neighbours around the festival,” he said.

But Hagen said he is disappointed in the decision because of how popular the music festival is with families.

“If Heritage (Fest) and other festivals, which are family events, aren’t allowing smoking sections, I think it’s a disappointment that Folk Fest as a family event is not moving in that direction,” he said.

Three festivals in Hawrelak Park will offer all-encompassing smoking areas, but the August long weekend Heritage Festival will not take up the festival exemption.

Executive director Jim Gibbon said cannabis will be barred from the site to align with its smoke-free policy.

But music events Interstellar Rodeo, Rockfest and Sonic Field Day will all have smoking zones away from the main festival area.

Todd Crawshaw, executive director of the Rock and Roll Society of Edmonton, said these regulated zones provide a happy medium for all attendees.

“The vast majority of our guests are not smokers of anything and we’re here to make sure everybody is comfortable,” he said.

Taste of Edmonton, the Fringe Festival and the just-completed Edmonton International Street Performers Festival all decided to continue keeping their sites smoke free.

Julie Stormer, supervisor of festivals and events with the city, said all smoking zones must be monitored, prohibit minors and be fenced in.

But there are no restrictions on the height or materials used to prevent visibility to minors.

Hagen argues this lack of rules is “a red flag” that doesn’t send a good message to children at these events.

Being the first year with cannabis consumption as a factor to consider at festivals, Stormer said it’s a bit of a pilot for both the city and the events to see what works best.

“I think it’s a bit of a trial year to see how it plays itself out and what citizens think and how they like or don’t like certain things,” she said. “Then we’ll make adjustments with festivals as we move forward.”

Businesses see increase in cigarette litter

Public smoking was also a topic of conversation at city hall last Wednesday with central business associations urging for replacement ashtrays to combat a major increase in cigarette butts.

The call comes nine months after cannabis legalization that saw the removal of several ashtrays along Jasper and Whyte Avenues where smoking would no longer be acceptable because of the new 10-metre restriction from doors and windows.

“Almost immediately as soon as the ashtrays were moved away then we started to notice more cigarette litter in our main street areas and alleyways,” said Cherie Klassen, executive director of the Old Strathcona Business Association.

Councillors directed city staff to work with affected business associations to find locations for replacement ashtrays, likely in prohibited smoking areas, as soon as possible.