Senate vote in favour of Bill C-45 leads to Royal Assent of the Cannabis Act
Municipalities should be aware that the legalization date has been determined, and is now officially set for October 17, 2018. Although the legalization of recreational cannabis was originally planned for implementation July 1, 2018, municipalities now have additional time to continue their preparations for legalization by amending by-laws, engaging their communities on a local approach, seeking information on public education, and making changes to deal with drug-impaired driving.
Many organizations throughout Alberta are tackling information dissemination on public education, including Alberta Health Services, Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, and the Government of Alberta.
Looking for more information?
- Government of Canada: Cannabis in Canada Information
- Government of Alberta: Cannabis Framework
- Federation of Canadian Municipalities: Municipal Guide to Cannabis Legalization
- Alberta Health Services: Recommendations on Cannabis Regulations for Alberta Municipalities
- Rural Municipalities of Alberta: Planning for Cannabis resources, which includes the following:
- Webinar Recording: The Municipal Role in Licencing Cannabis Retailers
- Webinar Recording: Regulating Public Consumption
- Webinar Recording: Developing Bylaws for Land-Use and Business Licencing
- Presentations on amending land use bylaws for production and retail cannabis facilities
RMA continues to monitor and advocate for clarity on issues such as how the Government of Alberta will share excise tax revenues, and regulations for edibles and cannabis lounges.
Please contact us if you have any questions or are looking for more resources.
Chelsea Parent
Policy Analyst
chelsea@RMAlberta.com
Tasha Blumenthal
Director of External Relations & Advocacy
tasha@RMAlberta.com