First proposed pot sites draw immediate criticism
Residents fear outdoor cannabis usage will disrupt their neighbourhoods
Four public cannabis consumption sites being proposed in one Calgary ward are already being lit up by critics.
Ward 9 Coun. Gian-Carlo Carra was the only city lawmaker to put forward the sites, two of which are in Inglewood, one in Bridgeland and another in Ogden.
The locations are 11th Street and 12th Avenue S.E.; 9th Avenue near 22nd Street S.E. in Inglewood and at Murdoch Park on 7a Street N.E. in Bridgeland.
A fourth is in a green space at 80th Avenue and Ogden Road S.E. and all will be subject to online public feedback and a city council hearing Oct. 9, when councillors will decide whether they’ll be approved ahead of Oct. 17, when recreational cannabis legalization takes effect.
But residents in those areas are already voicing opposition to the sites, which are being considered to allow some leeway to an outright public consumption ban in Calgary.
While his two-year-old son romped in a playground at Murdoch Park, neighbour Graham Newby said he’s not opposed to cannabis legalization or use, but doesn’t believe the green space is the proper venue.
“I’m not particularly keen on them doing it near my son ... it’s just not good for little minds,” said Newby. “We come to this park almost daily.”
Bridgeland resident Marie Carlson said she, too, isn’t opposed to legalization but has concerns about Murdoch Park being chosen.
“It’s an area that has lots of sports and lots of children,” said Carlson, adding she’s concerned her dog would either inhale pot smoke or eat discarded marijuana cigarette butts.
“I’d want more engagement on this.”
Residents from all three neighbourhoods took to Carra’s Twitter account to slam the choice of sites for their proximity to homes, playgrounds, natural areas and other amenities.
Carra, who said he was unable to respond to a call from Postmedia, tweeted that the four sites met localized criteria to minimize impacts by keeping them 100 metres from playgrounds and 30 metres from homes, among other considerations.
He also emphasized they’ll be subject to public consultation and that if such spaces meet with disfavour, it won’t be difficult to readjust them.
“It’s way easier to tighten existing regulations than loosen them,” he tweeted. “I suspect this process will be a great example of that phenomenon.”
City officials say more site proposals could be coming from councillors and would be considered after Oct. 17.
Ward 12 Coun. Shane Keating said he won’t be offering any sites or voting for them, adding that until liquor consumption laws are similarly relaxed, he’s opposed to any public pot use.
“Cannabis lounges are coming, sit back and wait until they come,” he said.
“The vast majority of public feedback I’m getting is saying, ‘Keep it out of public spaces.’”
He noted marijuana has long been widely consumed in public and will likely continue to be, “though it doesn’t mean it’s legal.”
Other councillors, such as Jyoti Gondek, said Calgary should allow cannabis use in most public places, with some prohibited spaces, a policy Edmonton’s adopted.
The concept of designated outdoor sites arose over concerns renters and condo dwellers will be prohibited from smoking pot in their homes even after Oct. 17.
Even if the only venues approved are in Ward 9, it’s not expected they ’ll draw users from other parts of the city, said Matt Zabloski, the city ’s lead on cannabis legalization.
“These are not intended to have people driving from other parts of the city,” he said.
City officials are in the final stages of reviewing cannabis retail shop applications, with more than 100 being approved so far and a similar number being rejected.
Those seeking to provide input on proposed cannabis consumption sites can do so until Sept. 7 by going to: Engage.Calgary.ca/CannabisAreas