A little over a month ago we asked Town of Barrhead’s council to consider reopening discussion on whether or not they should ban smoking and vaping on any town-owned facilities or properties.
We suggested largely to stem the amount of the public consumption of non-medical or recreation medical use cannabis when adult usage becomes legal Oct. 17.
And the more we think about it. The more we believe that municipalities need to have public cannabis rules in place before that date. More specifically full public consumption bans as will be in place in Lloydminister, Banff and Calgary
Recently we had the opportunity to talk to Barrhead RCMP Sgt. Bob Dodds about the progress respective levels of government in preparation for legalization.
And from his perspective, it isn’t good.
Although he said the Canadian Justice Department is set to give its blessing on the first roadside saliva testing, the Dräger DrugTest 5000 (a device that tests, for alcohol, THC, the psychotropic compound in marijuana, and cocaine, among other drugs) there is still a long way to go before the devices make their way to local law enforcement. The first being the ministerial order still needs to wait for a 30-day notice period and then the devices need to be ordered and frontline officers need to be trained on their use.
The federal government is making $81 million available over five years for provinces and territories to buy screening devices and train more officers to recognize drug impairment.
The roadside screening devices are only one part of the government’s strategy to prevent drug-impaired driving. It has also budgeted $62.5 million over five years on a public education strategy, including advertising campaigns.
Then there is currently no legislation or bylaws regarding the public consumption of cannabis other than Alberta’s Cannabis Framework which prohibits smoking or vaping of cannabis on hospital property, playgrounds, sports fields, skateparks, zoos, outdoor theatres, splash parks and inside vehicles. Everywhere else it is up to municipalities.
Dodds believes the consumption of marijuana should have the same rules as alcohol as both are restricted substances.
Mind you, if he had his druthers, he wouldn’t have legalized it for recreational use.
He is also concerned that without prohibiting the substance’s use in public it could be a public health issue, noting children could pick up the remnants of products and potentially become ill as a result.
We agree.
In 2017, the Journal of Pediatrics a published a study called Unintentional Cannabis Ingestion in Children: A Systematic Review which concluded, “Unintentional cannabis ingestion by children is a serious public health concern and is well-documented in numerous studies and case reports.”
So once again, we are calling for all the municipalities in our coverage area to ban public cannabis use.
