Mayors have ‘wait-and-see attitude’ on cannabis

Towns will consider options – perhaps new bylaws – if deemed necessary

With the recreational use of cannabis becoming legal Oct. 17, a few southwestern Nova Scotia mayors were asked where their towns stand with respect to rules and regulations. The consensus is that they will see how things unfold and take action if needed.

“We have had various discussions since we became aware that cannabis was going to be legalized,” said Shelburne Mayor Karen Mattatall. “We feel that the bylaw we have, at this point, regarding smoking in public places is relatively applicable. What we’ve said is we’re going to see if it becomes an issue.”

The mayors of Digby and Yarmouth said their towns are looking at cannabis pretty much the same way and will address it if there is a problem with people smoking the drug where they shouldn’t.

“We use the provincial nonsmoking bylaw, that’s what we work under,” said Digby Mayor Ben Cleveland, referring to his town’s position on the matter. “We’re just kind of taking a waitand-see attitude to see whether or not there will be issues with (recreational cannabis) ... We haven’t enacted any kind of cannabis bylaw, but it’ll be looked at if there are (problems).”

Nova Scotia’s Smoke-free Places Act includes a long list of enclosed places were smoking is not permitted. Smoking also is not permitted within four metres of windows, air intake vents and entrances to places of employment. More protections from second-hand smoke came into effect when the Cannabis Control Act was proclaimed earlier this year.

As for recreational cannabis, Mayor Cleveland said the Town of Digby “didn’t want to put a bylaw in place that’s not necessary, so we’re just going to kind of monitor the situation and if the residents of the town have concerns about where it’s being used, then we’ll look at it and put something in place.”

Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood said her town’s approach is “basically the same” as that of the towns of Digby and Shelburne.

“That’s where we are as a town right now,” Mayor Mood said. “We haven’t written any bylaws. We haven’t taken those extra steps ... The legalized, non-medical cannabis, we believe, should be following the existing regulations with regard to the Smoke-free Act.”

Mayor Mattatall said Shelburne town council found it didn’t make sense to take action on something when they don’t know if it will be a problem.

Digby Mayor Cleveland said he doesn’t expect it will be.

“At the end of the day, I don’t think it’s going to be a real big issue,” he said. “It’s not in the other industrial countries where it’s legal.”