The Calgary, Alberta, Canada City Council has moved to ban all cannabis consumption in public but included exceptions for those with medical need, the Calgary Herald reports. The regulations also prohibit retail shops from opening 150 meters (about 492 feet) from schools and emergency shelters and 10 meters (about 33 feet) from daycares, pawnshops, and payday loan businesses.
The city has also banned consumption in multi-family dwellings, such as apartments and condos. Mayor Naheed Nenshi said the rules set forth reasonable limits but acknowledged that the decision to ban consumption in multi-family dwellings would have an adverse effect om a “minority” of individuals, including tourists. Nenshi suggested the city could eventually allow social cannabis use.
“I think it’s far better to set the rules and then make exceptions for people who need them, rather than make a grand exception for everyone, which would lead to public nuisance problems for everybody.” – Nenshi to the Herald
The multi-family dwelling ban was opposed by Councilor Evan Wooley who said that the majority of citizens in his ward are renters.
“It’s not an insignificant group of people – 36 per cent of Calgarians are renters. And effectively we are saying there is no space for you to consume cannabis, and that’s a problem for me.” – Wooley to the Herald
The council did vote to have city officials report back on potential social-use rules early next year. The vote will likely allow the city to begin accepting applications for retail businesses as early as Apr. 24.