University of Lethbridge says OK to cannabis
Institution will create five spots for students to smoke or vape pot
Consuming cannabis in designated areas has been given the green light by the University of Lethbridge.
In contrast, post-secondary institutions in Calgary have either yet to roll out their policy, or snuffed out the notion entirely.
After considerable consultation with its members and experts, the U of L will earmark five spots for students to smoke or vape cannabis. The areas should be ready for use in a month when legalization of recreational pot comes into effect, said Kathleen Massey, the university’s associate vice-president of students.
“It’s geared to accommodating students living on campus and in a couple of cases, they’re near the residences,” said Massey. “Beyond that, it’s quite restrictive.”
University officials will ensure those areas will be equipped smoking material receptacles that are a distance removed from buildings and ventilation intakes, she said.
The plan, said Massey, won’t encourage cannabis use but is rather meant to spark a discussion regarding the consequences of pot use and to promote harm reduction.
“It’s precisely because we’re a post-secondary institution,” she said. The university wants to educate students “about the risks involved in the use of cannabis.
“We expect people to show up (at class) prepared to learn and not be impaired,” she added.
There’s also a realization that some students already consume cannabis, said Massey.
The new policy, however, could change if the City of Lethbridge takes a hard-line stance against public cannabis consumption, as its counterparts in Calgary have, she added.
The policy doesn’t extend to the U of L’s Calgary campus, which is embedded in Bow Valley College where there’s a ban on cannabis use.
Meanwhile, the University of Calgary is expected to decide on a marijuana consumption policy early next month, but in a statement it acknowledged it already houses a licensed alcohol establishment on campus.
“It is compliant with all federal, provincial and municipal laws, and consistent with the university’s approach to managing other legal recreational substances on campus,” the statement says. “In addition to ensuring knowledge of the policy, the communication will promote on- and off-campus resources designed to reduce the harm that can be caused by drug and alcohol use.”
SAIT is standing firm on a ban on any cannabis use on campus, said spokesman Chris Gerritsen.
“Our stance falls in line with the provincial government prohibiting consumption on school property,” he said.
The SAIT campus does have “strategically-placed tobacco areas,” in line with a policy that’s found favour with more than half the student population, he added.
Mount Royal University has decided to ban all smoking on campus, including marijuana, said Steven Fitterer, vice-president of student affairs and campus life.
“While we continue to explore our options, the city has decided not to permit the smoking of cannabis in public places. Given this, we will abide by the city’s bylaws,” said Fitterer in a statement. “In this way, we can promote a smokefree environment (and) provide education on programs and resources available with a focus on harm reduction.”
At the same time, the City of Calgary is attempting to provide exemptions to its public cannabis use ban, particularly to address the concerns of renters or condo owners who face smoking bans in their buildings. But those efforts are at a standstill after public opposition forced the city to abandon proposals for four designated use areas within green spaces in Ward 9.