Federal Government to Pass Legislation-- Permitting Recreational Marijuana

Prince Rupert Council Proposes Temporary Bylaw-- Prohibiting Commercial Sale

Cierra Wilson

The Federal Government has indicated that they will be passing legislation to permit recreational marijuana use this year.

In response, the City of Prince Rupert has proposed a temporary Bylaw that would prohibit the commercial sale of marijuana in City limits. Residents who use marijuana for medical purposes, which is allowed under current Federal regulations, will not be impacted.

Prince Rupert Mayor Lee Brain says the temporary ban would provide the City the opportunity to develop regulations for the sale of marijuana that are in line with those provided by other levels of government.

“We’re just going to do the responsible thing right now, the wise choice—which is to take some time and do it right once the first time, because if it becomes legal then it’s going to be, you know for the next century marijuana in Canada, so we’d like to make sure that were doing it right,” says Brain.

Brain says that the Bylaw will go to a public hearing at the January 23^rd Council meeting—where the community will have the opportunity to comment on the project, and Council will decide from there whether to approve the Bylaw.

“We want the public to come to a public hearing. Does the public think we should do it this way, what are their views on marijuana in the community; we’d love to hear that feedback,” says Brain.