Petition wants cannabis buffer zone for church properties

LETTERS

Your Honorable Mayor Spearman and City Councillors:

You have a copy of a petition from citizens and residents of the Lethbridge community, many from religious persuasions and many non-religious requesting your learned consideration of the following statement:

“We, the undersigned, as concerned citizens, urge the City of Lethbridge leaders to act now to include religious assembly properties to be added to the list of prohibited areas for the retail cannabis store locations and to increase the distance to 150 metres.”

The purpose of this request is to address the safety of children and youth from the sale of cannabis. Both the federal government of Canada and the provincial government of Alberta know and are aware that the use of cannabis has been proven scientifically to be harmful to children, youth and adults up to the age of 25. It has been the concerted effort of these government committees to protect the most vulnerable segment of our population, our children.

The City of Lethbridge has the mandate to consider the laws and see if they are restrictive enough. A great oversight has been made in not considering religious properties as places where children and youth gather regularly. In fact, before we had public school buildings and public playgrounds, churches and religious institutions were the place where children and youth gathered for education and recreation, and still do to this day.

These old and traditional gathering places are still in our modern society places that should protect our children and youth; and as such, they should be afforded the same protection as has been approved by the Province of Alberta. The two items in boldface are what the petitioners are asking to be changed.

And I quote: “Alberta will prohibit (cannabis) from any place where tobacco is restricted, and in the following places: on any hospital property, school property or child care facility property

in or within a prescribed 100metre distance from: a playground, a sports or playing field, a skateboard or bicycle park, a zoo, an outdoor theatre, an outdoor pool or splash pad; from any motor vehicles, with the exception of those being used as a temporary residence, such as a parked RV.”

(and religious properties) (change to 150 metres) Rabbi Sidney Speakman

Leader, Joyful House of Prayer Congregation Lethbridge