Smoking cannabis will only be allowed in private residences in Stettler.
During its regular meeting on Oct. 2 the Town of Stettler council voted in favour of banning smoking cannabis in public places.
Mayor Sean Nolls admits enforcing the bylaw will be difficult.
“That’s always going to be an issue for any municipality. The kind of capital it would take to properly enforce this bylaw is quite massive. To be honest none of us have the capital to properly enforce it. We know we can’t properly enforce it.”
Mayor Nolls said the bylaw is more of a deterrent.
“The RCMP are working with us as best as they can but it’s a bylaw and historically the RCMP haven’t done that but they will support us to the best of their abilities.”
Cannabis becomes legal in Canada on Oct. 17.
Canada’s Cannabis Act states that residents can have in their possession five grams of fresh cannabis, 15 grams of edible product, 70 grams of liquid product, 0.25 grams of concentrates (solid or liquid) and one cannabis plant seed. This means that an adult can legally possess 150 grams of fresh Cannabis.
Anyone caught possessing more than the legal limit can be fined for small amounts and for larger amounts sentenced to up to five years in jail. Those charged with illegal distribution or sale will be fined for small amounts and for larger amounts can face up to 14 years in prison.
For more information go to https://www.canada.ca/en/services/health/campaigns/cannabis.html