A community conversation 'Cannabis – Let's Talk Alberta' hosted by the Town of Vermilion, Community Support Services (FCSS) and Alberta Health Services Provincial Addiction Prevention Team, University of Victoria's Canadian Institute of Substance Use Research and Health Canada took place at the Vermilion Regional Center on April 24.

A large crowd turned out for the two sessions held and participants exchanged their ideas and shared perspectives on the legalization of cannabis and its use in the community.

Event Facilitator Carol Coleman said that overall it was a positive event. “I think people engaged and looked at all aspects of the conversation around the table. There were some concerns but it seems like any panic that was there has diminished. It will be a change and change is always difficult for some people to adjust to. It wasn't a straight out information meeting, it was a conversation and I was pleased with the conversations we had with the people who attended. Within our community we will have to have new bylaws within the next 4 to 6 months around how many retail stores we will allow and where will they be located, and where people can smoke in the future and institutional care facilities will need to write their own policies, it has a ripple effect in a lot of areas. I encourage people to let their elected officials know what they want included in the new bylaws,” said Coleman.

“Although medical marijuana in Alberta is legal, it wasn’t always been easily accessible. For one, many people are unaware and don’t pursue cannabis as a form of treatment. Many people are not aware of the benefits or the relief that medical cannabis can provide for them. I watched my dad suffer with Crohn's Disease for many years and I have seen the relief it has given him,” said Candice Anderson, who was one of the volunteers at the awareness event.

Provincially updates to the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Regulation was introduced on February 16, 2018, and will govern how private retail will operate, including: who can own cannabis stores, where they can be located, staff requirements, safety and security requirements and other operational details. The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) will carry out licensing, oversight and compliance functions for private cannabis retail, as well as manage the distribution of cannabis and the AGLC began accepting applications on March 6, 2018.

Vermilion's Town Manager George Rogers said that the Town will be following the Provincial standard in the interest of public safety.
“Council has not made any decisions but my thoughts are that we will be looking to protect children from any second hand cannabis smoke as much as we do from any other tobacco smoke today. From a public health standpoint we are looking into if for example it would be allowed to have people walking about the Fair Grounds smoking cannabis and we hope to protect the public and children from any second hand smoke.
In regards to the retail stores we will be monitoring the separation distances from schools and hospitals,” said Roger.
One Peace Officer who was at the community conversation on April 24 said that impaired driving with Cannabis will be monitored more strictly. The government is updating the impaired driving laws to prepare for the legalization of cannabis and to set time limits for licence suspensions. The following changes came into effect on April 9, 2018: zero tolerance for cannabis or illegal drugs in the bloodstream of GDL drivers, in addition to alcohol, and immediate 90-day licence suspension for impaired drivers, followed by participation in a one-year ignition interlock program.

According to the government of Canada's website; proposed new blood drug concentration limits will come into effect later this year after federal legislation to legalize cannabis and update the Criminal Code receives Royal Assent. Changes to federal impaired driving laws will come into effect after Bill C-46 receives Royal Assent later this year. Drug-impaired driving is already a criminal offence. What will change is the blood-drug concentration limits for cannabis and cannabis/alcohol combination. This is similar to the existing .08 per cent blood alcohol concentration for criminal-level alcohol-impaired driving.
The proposed blood-drug concentration limits include: 2 nanograms (ng) per milliletre (ml)
but less than 5 ng/ml THC will result in a fine of Maximum $1,000 fine (summary conviction). 5 ng/ml or more THC or 2.5 ng/ml or more THC combined with 50 mg/100ml or more alcohol can result in 1st offence: Minimum $1,000 fine, 2nd offence: Mandatory 30 days imprisonment or 3rd offence: Mandatory 120 days imprisonment.