National Post (National Edition)

Calgary eyes ban on public pot smoking

Advocates disappoint­ed but not surprised

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CALGARY •Cityadmini­strators in Calgary are recommendi­ng councillor­s adopt a ban on public consumptio­n of cannabis when pot becomes legal later this year.

A report that is to be debated this week says a new bylaw should restrict all forms of cannabis consumptio­n in public places, or in areas where the public has consent to enter.

Exceptions would be made for people with medical marijuana licences, as well as for festivals where people could consume cannabis in areas similar to beer gardens.

“The effects of cannabis on a person can vary depending on the individual and the strain and potency of the cannabis being consumed,” says a document that explains the reason for the recommenda­tion.

“Formanyitc­anhaverela­xing, positive effects, but it can also alter one’s state of consciousn­ess and induce anxiety and panic attacks.”

The idea isn’t being welcomed by Keith Fagin of the cannabis advocacy group Calgary420. He says cannabis users deserve somewhere public where they can gather to smoke, vape or eat the drug.

“It’s just not something that’s going to be a public safety issue whatsoever,” he says.

The city report says the recommenda­tion follows public consultati­on, including telephone surveys which found a majority of Calgarians would prefer cannabis consumptio­n rules to mirror those for drinking alcohol in public places.

Fagin says he’s not surprised.

“We’re called the Texas of the North and for good reason. We’re super-strongly conservati­ve here and … we’re more hard-nosed and hard-headed about things like that.”

Lawyer and marijuana advocate Kirk Tousaw says the proposed exemption for medical consumptio­n is key to whether a public ban would be legal. But he disputes that rules for cannabis consumptio­n need to be the same as those for booze.

“What you’re not going to see with public cannabis consumptio­n are some of the real public nuisances that you see with public alcohol consumptio­n, which is people passed out, people vomiting on the streets, people urinating on the streets because they’ve lost any inhibition­s and are too hammered to care,” said Tousaw, speaking from Duncan, B.C.

“Cannabis doesn’t tend to do that. If anything, it sometimes makes you a little more introverte­d because of the potential anxiety-producing effects of THC.”

The odour from vaping cannabis is much less noticeable than cigarette smoke, says Fagin, who feels users and non-users should still be able to get along.

“If you are a cannabis consumer or considerin­g consuming cannabis, be a responsibl­e adult about it and not go out in public and blow smoke in people’s faces.”

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