UMQ emphasizes municipal role in cannabis regulation

The Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ) has insisted that local governments have the tools necessary to enforce regulations surrounding the iminent legalization of cannabis for recreational use.

Speaking to a Les Affaires forum on the cannabis market in Montreal Tuesday, the UMQ President and Mayor of Drummondville, Alexandre Cusson, pointed out that the legalization of cannabis requires the involvement of several municipal jurisdictions for its implementation and that municipalities must have the autonomy necessary to fulfill their role.

"Local governments are taking responsibility for the legalization of cannabis”, Cusson said. “It is essential that the legal framework that’s adopted respects their autonomy, especially in the choice of public places where consuming cannabis will be allowed on their territory."

Under the Municipal Powers Act, municipalities can adopt peace and order regulations to ensure the well-being of citizens, particularly with respect to the consumption of alcohol on public property. As a result, they can determine the outdoor public places (streets, sidewalks, parks, etc.) where the consumption of cannabis will be allowed or prohibited.

The UMQ particularly emphasized that aspect in the context of the detailed study of Bill 157 when it presented its brief last December before the parliamentary committee.

Robert Beaudry, a member of the City of Montreal's Executive Committee responsible for economic and commercial development and government relations, also addressed the forum and insisted on the importance of the Quebec working with municipalities on the development of a long-term sharing formula for cannabis revenues that will at least meet the recurrent costs that municipalities will have to absorb.

"The legalization of cannabis will have non-negligible impacts on municipal operations, he said. “The City of Montreal has assessed the various issues and we have concluded that we will need significant financial and human resources to ensure that the legalization of cannabis will fit harmoniously into the reality of our city."

The UMQ has reiterated its satisfaction with the $62 million transfer over two years planned in Quebec's latest budget to help local governments prepare for the legalization of cannabis. This envelope provides $40 million for police operations and $20 million that is transferable for other needs (human resources, communications operations, first responders, etc.). The Union plans to continue its discussions with the government to determine a formula defining how cannabis revenue will be shared between Québec City and municipalities, which will be announced shortly.

The UMQ will also issue guidelines soon for its members to assist them in the implementation of the new legislation on cannabis.