Calgary city council’s executive committee on Tuesday approved the sale of cannabis at adult-only events inside city limits, as soon as the end of April.
Currently, cannabis can be consumed at such events, but there are no onsite vendors.
Users must use their phones to order and pay for cannabis products from offsite, licenced dealers, who deliver the orders to the event sites, where separate areas are set up for patrons to smoke the weed or sink their teeth into if it’s edible.
The ‘no-on-site-vendors' rule applied to only Calgary. At outdoor, adults-only events anywhere else in Alberta, cannabis products were approved for sale on site as of last year.
The motion to change the rule in Calgary was brought to council in February by Ward 11 Councillor Kourtney Penner, who said at the time, “I want to be very clear on what this is and what this isn’t, because there seems to be some confusion despite efforts to communicate what this is.”
“What this is, is creating a legal business process that is in line with legislation from the provincial government. What is already happening is cannabis is being consumed at 18-plus, adult-only festivals and events. That consumption can come in many forms as cannabis is legalized in many forms.”
Penner added the motion should not be construed as encouragement to consume cannabis at the events.
“What this isn’t is creating an open environment to use cannabis at those festivals,” she said. “We already have regulations that define where it can be used, so it is simply about creating a safer environment for sales on sites where we currently have a safe sales environment for alcohol.”
The new bylaw specifically states permits to sell cannabis can only be issued to existing retail cannabis stores that have an approved AGLC licence and extend only to events where minors are prohibited to attend, which would affect fewer than 10 major events this year in Calgary.
“This is a legal substance where adults are making adult choices on what they choose to consume,” said Penner. “It's really about regulatory and policy and it is not about the judgement we should be passing on people for what they choose to do as adults.”
The motion passed by a vote of 6 to 4 on Tuesday, with Councillors Dan McLean (Ward 13), Sonya Sharp (Ward 1), Jennifer Wyness (Ward 2), and Andre Chabot (Ward 10) voting against.
After the council session, McLean said, “One beer or a glass of wine doesn’t alter most peoples’ perceptions of life, but one joint, I don’t think they compare. Marijuana is a lot stronger than it was back in the 70s and 80s. You can have one beer, but you can’t have just one toke.”
“I know it’s legal, but I think it sends the wrong message.”
Alberta Health Services is also not high on the idea.
In a statement, Brent Friesen, provincial medical officer of health at Alberta Health Services, said, “Alberta Health Services is looking for events to be restricted to sell either cannabis or alcohol, but not both,” adding “combining the two greatly increases the level of impairment and the risk of injury and should be avoided.”
Outside council chambers on Tuesday, Penner said, “So, what this is really doing is addressing an issue and a challenge that is happening in the cannabis distribution marketplace.”
City administration has been directed to amend all relevant bylaws, permitting processes, festival applications, and bring those to council for review on April 29.
