Eckville Town Council carried the first two readings of a new Cannabis Consumption Bylaw #749-18 on Nov. 13.
The bylaw, when it is passed, will help control and regulation cannabis consumption.
The bylaw will prohibit smoking, vaping, ingestion or any type of consumption of cannabis in a public place.
The bylaw also states it will not restrict anyone from smoking, vaping, eating or consuming cannabis within a private residence.
Town CAO Jack Ramsden says the bylaw is being put in as a proactive measure.
“I have not yet been inundated,” continued Ramsden. “I haven’t gotten any complaints yet, but it’s just about a month [since legalization] coming up at the end of the week here.”
READ MORE: Eckville Town Council to ‘dust off’ old bylaw in wake of marijuana legalization
“The legal firm that helped us with the first bylaw actually did provide us that draft,” explained Ramsden, who said they decided to leave in the constraints on edibles despite them still being illegal to sell for the time being.
At Tuesday night’s Council meeting the suggestion of no smoking cannabis signs were recommended to help clearly mark public places, which is something Ramsden agreed with and says he will look into.
The bylaw definitions states a public place “includes any place to which the public has access as of right or by invitation or implied.”
Ramsden says it includes places like streets, lanes and public parks.
“Really short of being on your property or your neighbours,” said the CAO. “You can’t just walk around.”
“But, you know, you’re not just supposed to walk around having a beer either,” added Ramsden. “I really think that [if we] give it a little time logic will prevail here.”
If caught smoking, vaping, eating or consuming cannabis in a public place it will result in a violation ticket.
The ticket will be for $250.
Ramsden said the issue with this bylaw might be policing, as Eckville does not provide their own policing services.
“In some ways passing this bylaw does put the question whether or not we may be required to do that and how we’re going to do that,” commented Ramsden, who says it will likely be passed on to the RCMP.
The bylaw also states that an officer issuing a violation ticket can also preclude a mandatory court appearance “to any person who contravenes any provision of this bylaw.”
The Cannabis Consumption Bylaw #749-18 will return to Council for its third reading.
If there is any questions about the bylaw contact the Town Office.
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