On June 19, the Senate of Canada passed the Trudeau government’s legislation to legalize cannabis in Canada.
At the same time, City of Powell River committee of the whole received a report on the public engagement process the city undertook to gauge residents’ responses to the development of municipal regulations concerning cannabis sales.
The information will be used as city staff drafts new bylaws for approval by council.
A total of 618 people completed the survey at three public information meetings, online, by email and in writing, according to city manager of economic development Scott Randolph.
The survey suggests 52.5 per cent of Powell River residents are not worried at all about pending legalization. Concern was shown by 38.7 per cent of respondents regarding youth access and 41 per cent worried about public marijuana smoking and vaping.
The issue of smoking was one of the major issues raised by the public, according to Randolph.
“The federal government is saying, ‘We’re only going to legalize some oils and topicals, at a certain potency, and dry bud,’” said Randolph. “Some people are scratching their heads and saying, ‘That doesn’t make a lot of sense.’”
Under the new legislation, some products, including topicals, edibles and vape oils, will not be immediately and legally available for a year, according to councillor Maggie Hathaway.
Councillor Rob Southcott said he attended all three public meetings and most of the discussion was around medicinal marijuana, where most topicals and oils are used, not recreational.
“I do find it ironic that the considered legalization will put commercial producers in position to provide recreational marijuana and the way most people use it recreationally is smoking,” said Southcott, “but it will marginalize the really advanced craft industry that has produced specialized products over many years for the specific use of users who need it.”
Randolph said many respondents want council to advocate on behalf of medicinal users to federal and provincial governments.
“Survival of compassion clubs and non-profit dispensaries was a big issue we heard about over and over again, and the access to higher potency extracted products,” said Randolph.
Southcott said a second irony is that after decades of government attempts to combat tobacco smoking, it is now advocating another form of smoking.
Property owners expressed concerns about neighbours who smoke pot, especially outdoors, according to Randolph.
“We heard a number of times, ‘What if I’m sitting on my deck and my neighbour is smoking cannabis on their deck and I have to smell it?’” said Randolph. “That comes back to private enjoyment of property.”
Other issues raised by respondents include the majority, 66.6 per cent, feeling there should be between two and 10 cannabis stores licensed to operate in Powell River. Most people indicated stores should be allowed anywhere in the city, but not near schools, and operate during the same hours as liquor stores.
