A number of hot-button items were discussed during the Wed. Aug. 8 Community Cannabis Conversation held at the Stettler Legion Hall.
As legislation moves further down the political pipe, Stettler residents were curious as to how legislation would shape up in their town of roughly 6,000 people.
“There was a variety of questions as far as some of the regulations regarding dispensing and what is going to be allowed by the municipality itself,” said Shelly Walker, Executive Director of Stettler & District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS).
FCSS Stettler hosted the event in hopes of getting a wide variety of opinions about the controversial substance before the Town and County of Stettler make any decisions.
Approximately 30 people were in attendance with the majority of the conversation centred around the legal ramifications of using the drug and what constitutes a criminal offence.
“It was a really good open discussion,” said Walker. “I think the biggest concern right now has been municipalities trying to work out their bylaws surrounding it. It’s a really tough struggle for them.”
The stakeholder’s panel consisted of the local RCMP, Town of Stettler, County of Stettler, Alberta Health Services, Mental Health and Addiction Services, Stettler and District Board of Trade and Turning Point.
More public meetings will be held closer to the date of federal legalization on October 17.
“The community is pretty well in tune,” she continued. “We know that [marijuana] has always been here, it is just a matter of what it’s going to look like.”
