By Angela Brown

Battleford council mulls over marijuana

May 3, 2017 | 2:54 PM

Pot was on the table for Town of Battleford’s last meeting, as council members wondered how legalized marijuana could impact the town.

Some councillors were apprehensive of marijuana being accessible and sold in a retail store in town.

Coun. Shelley Boutin-Gervais put forth the idea of whether the town could have a plebiscite on the issue, to determine if residents want to see marijuana available in their town.

“I’m not sure that is up for debate because it’s passed in the federal government,” she said. “There are lots of questions to be asked around the whole issue of legalizing marijuana. There is a lot of background work that needs to be done.”

Boutin-Gervais added the town will also need to address any legal issues.

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She also questioned whether marijuana could be restricted from being sold anywhere close to the schools.

“These are issues that need to be looked at in the future,” Boutin-Gervais said.

Coun. Gordon Yarde was concerned about the impact on the town and was also apprehensive, despite knowing the federal government has tabled legislation to permit the drug.

“If it becomes legal, we have got to make room for it, or the people of the town might have a say,” he said.

The councillor added he is concerned about the potential for marijuana abuse, and “what will happen to the young people eventually.”

Chief administrative officer John Enns-Wind indicated the town doesn’t have to implement any new legislation until 2018 related to marijuana – such as by altering zoning, as an example. Administration will review how other towns respond, and analyze legislation from other jurisdictions as a point of reference, to use as a guideline.

“We can have a plebiscite. However, if the result is we want to ban marijuana from the community, that is very challenging to enforce because federal government has it that marijuana is legal,” the CAO said.

Council will continue to discuss the issue at future meetings.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW