There won’t be any marijuana smoke allowed in the MD’s public spaces. The MD of Foothills council passed its cannabis bylaw on Oct. 17, the same day the federal cannabis act came into effect, prohibiting the consumption of marijuana in any public place. “There is a desire on the side of the MD of Foothills to regulate where cannabis may be used, whether it’s being smoked, vaped, or otherwise consumed, to make sure that the enjoyment of public places is maintained throughout the municipality despite the legalization of marijuana,” said Darlene Roblin, MD protective services co-ordinator. For the MD, a public space refers to any privately or publicly owned or leased property the public has access to, whether through payment or otherwise, she said. She said the definition is fairly broad so as to include everything from parks to community halls, sports rinks, shopping plazas and schools. It also extends to campgrounds, like the MD-operated Hogg Park, though there are different rules applied in that case, she said. “A registered campsite is determined to be your place of residence, which is why you’re allowed to drink in your campsite but you’re not allowed to carry alcohol down the road through the campground,” said Roblin. “So cannabis is being treated like alcohol in this case.” She said the definition of consuming cannabis includes smoking, vaping or otherwise ingesting marijuana, but it doesn’t stop there. The bylaw lists holding cannabis or having control of a device containing marijuana as part of consumption as well, she said. “If you don’t see them actually inhaling it but they’ve got a lit joint or vaping device it is easier for us to still tie them to the use of cannabis in a public place,” said Roblin. The penalty for consuming cannabis in public in the MD is $250, she said. Reeve Larry Spilak said he’s pleased with the MD’s cannabis bylaw at this point. “Really none of us know where this is going to go, if it will be abused in any way, shape or form,” said Spilak. “But I think the starting point is to protect the MD and its residents in every way we can.” He said there may need to be some changes down the road depending on how legalization rolls out in the Foothills, but he expects many municipalities will face the same challenge of adjusting to make the bylaw work. “It’s new to all of us,” said Spilak. “It’s much easier to start out being proactive than to have to react in a negative way going forward.”
