Background on Cannabis Legalization
The federal government introduced legislation to legalize cannabis by July 2018. Alberta can decide how it will adapt to this legislation.
The Alberta Cannabis Framework was developed following public and stakeholder engagement to best achieve 4 priorities for cannabis legalization in our province:
- keeping cannabis out of the hands of children and youth
- protecting safety on roads, in workplaces and in public spaces
- protecting public health
- limiting the illegal market for cannabis
The City’s Role and How the Changes will Affect your Community
The City has been engaging stakeholders and the public to gain input on:
- Rules/regulations required for businesses operating within the municipality
- Rules/regulations relating to public consumption
- Enforcement of municipal, provincial and federal regulation of legalized recreational cannabis
The City’s proposed changes can affect your community in several ways. Land Use Bylaw changes will likely include minimum separation distances. This may inform how close a cannabis retailer can be from schools, liquor stores, or treatment centres. Changes will also include where cannabis can be consumed in your community, and how long cannabis retail stores will stay open. We will include more information about the proposed changes once the report is made available on Friday, February 16th. Click here to learn more about the City’s role and previous public engagement.
Public Meeting on February 21st
The public is invited to attend a meeting on cannabis legalization, which will begin at 9:30AM on Wednesday, February 21st in Council Chambers, located in the Municipal Building at 800 Macleod Trail SW. The Council Chambers are located in the foyer of the municipal building.
The Standing Policy Committee(SPC) on Planning and Urban Development(PUD) will be looking at a report from City Administration on proposed Land Use Bylaw amendments for cannabis legalization in Calgary. The report will include administration’s recommendations on issues such as retail sales and production facilities. The Committee will then submit a recommendation to Council. Bylaws will be based upon both the federal and provincial policy and will not be effective until they are approved by Council. Currently, Council is scheduled to consider the Committee’s recommendation on April 5th 2018, though this date may change if required.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Members of the public WILL have the ability to speak to the report before the committee renders a recommendation.
Administration’s report will be posted publicly on the City’s website on Friday, February 16th at 4:00 PM.