Mayor Peter Brown admitted Oct. 15 he did not “fully understand and comprehend” what he was voting on when a bylaw dictating where local cannabis stores will be permitted was presented to council Sept. 4. This lack of understanding comes despite the issue being debated by council at two previous meetings and three public hearings – as well as the large amount of time between when the federal government tabled its bill to legalize marijuana in spring 2017 and the legalization date of Oct. 17. In addition to voting on something as significant as the cannabis bylaw without understanding what he was voting for, Brown opted to insult the residents who came out to the public hearings by saying, “100 per cent of the people speaking had a vested interest in seeing marijuana everywhere.” Even if this was true, these are the people who felt the issue was important enough to get off their couches and come to one of three opportunities to make their voice heard. Do they not have as valid an opinion as those who oppose the legalization of cannabis? We understand some on council may have a moral resistance to the recreational use of cannabis, but that is now a moot point. Cannabis consumption became legal in Canada Oct. 17, and Airdrie residents should be able to access the legal product. As a controlled substance – similar to alcohol and tobacco – cannabis will be regulated, and this council needs to stop dragging its feet and respect the rights of citizens and business owners.
