Pubdate: Sat, 14 Oct 2017
Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB)
Copyright: 2017 The Edmonton Journal
Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134
Author: Juris Graney
Page: A2

MOST MUNICIPAL CANDIDATES SUPPORT BAN ON SMOKING POT IN PUBLIC AREAS:

SURVEY

An overwhelming number of municipal candidates from across Alberta
surveyed by anti-smoking advocate group Action on Smoking and Health
support municipal restrictions on the use of cannabis in public places.

In total, 159 candidates from 20 major Alberta municipalities were
asked nine questions in the survey on cannabis and tobacco between
Oct. 2 and Oct. 11.

Of those candidates, 133 respondents, or 84 per cent, said they
support restrictions.

Almost as many, 121 respondents or 76 per cent, said they support
municipal licensing of cannabis retail sales, and 129 candidates also
supported the use of municipal zoning to control location of cannabis
retail stores.

"The new councils will be scrambling to develop local bylaws to
regulate the sale and use of cannabis in the months ahead," the
group's executive director Les Hagen said in a release Friday.

"We are also pleased to learn that more than 70 per cent of the
candidates surveyed feel that tobacco and cannabis smoking should be
banned in public areas.

"Smoking bans must be expanded to include cannabis or it may lead to
the renormalization of smoking in public places, which could set back
our collective efforts to reduce tobacco use."

Recreational marijuana is expected to be legalized in Canada next
July.
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MAP posted-by: Matt