Empowering municipalities with cannabis regulations

The Government of Alberta, along with provincial and territorial governments, is preparing for the legalization of recreational cannabis, which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said will come into effect October 17.

At a recent Hinton town council meeting, several councillors expressed some concern and confusion about the province’s cannabis legislation, and I would like to clarify a few things.

We have recently introduced several changes to modernize and update the Gaming and Liquor Act, in some cases in responses to the impending legalization of cannabis later this year. These amendments help to further protect public health, keep cannabis out of the hands of children, and limit the illegal market.

Like with the consumption of alcohol and tobacco, we’re prohibiting the smoking and vaping of cannabis on any business premises or place that can be reasonably accessed by the public. This is in line with existing policy for alcohol and tobacco. Our approach to the new cannabis market has been shaped by feedback from thousands of Albertans, and we’ve also spoken with municipalities who’ve told us they want flexibility.

We have established rules concerning things like public consumption and the locations of private cannabis retail stores. By giving municipalities the ability to amend some of the regulations, we’re allowing them the flexibility to make decisions about what will work best in their local communities.

This recognizes that the Hinton Town Council, for example, is in the best position to make those specific decisions in Hinton. I’m proud our government has recognized the role of local decision-makers in setting the specific regulations for individual communities. If municipalities want to go above and beyond the regulations we’ve put in place and create a situation that calls for heightened enforcement, that’s their decision to make.

As for the revenues, the province does not anticipate making any profit for the first several years, and we remain committed to having conversations with municipalities about cannabis revenues.

I encourage all municipalities to continue to consult with residents about how to manage legalized cannabis consumption in their own communities.