Mayor Jeff Genung says Cochrane is well on its way to being preparing for the legalization of recreational cannabis but they are still concerned the Alberta Government has made no commitment to provide municipalities with a cut from cannabis-related revenue to help cover the cost.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Trudeau announced Canadians will legally be able to consume marijuana recreationally as of Oct. 17.

Cochrane's administration has been doing their homework for the last year and is getting in front of the issue, says Genung. They've already established a comprehensive bylaw to control its sale and commercial cultivation and council will soon to be debating amendments to the smoking bylaw.

"Cochrane's in really good shape with the work we've done on retail outlets and we're about to tackle the smoking bylaw," says Genung prior to today's announcement. "Even if they do tweak it and change it a little we're prepared. We're ready. we're not going to be left scrambling when its legal."

Council is scheduled to soon discuss revisions to the smoking bylaw and if they follow the example of the City of Calgary there will be zero tolerance for use in public.

Still, there are pressing concern of additional enforcement costs.

While in Boulder, Colorado recently, Genung said their city officials did see an increase in enforcement costs when it was legalized there in 2014.

Seventy-five per cent of the revenue collected by the federal government is being given to the province to cover costs, but as of yet, the Alberta Government has not announced how much of that will be given to municipalities. The City of Calgary estimates it will cost them an additional $8 million for enforcement while the Town of Cochrane will not be certain until its amended smoking bylaw is passed.

"As a whole province, all the municipalities are saying the province needs to pass on some of the revenue from licensing and tax on cannabis to municipalities to help with increased costs," says Genung.

Genung says the town has been taking a regional approach to cannabis.

"For me, it's been more of a regional thing and I've been talking to mayors of Airdrie, Okotoks, Chestermere and Strathmore. We're all are positioning ourselves with what Calgary is doing on purpose. If it's illegal there, maybe it should be illegal here, too. Even as a consumer, when you cross the boundary you know what's illegal and legal. That way we're consistent."

In May, town council received an update on the preliminary research completed and were told a draft of the proposed smoking bylaw revisions could come before council as early as their next meeting.

According to the Canadian Government as of Oct. 17, Canadians will be able to:

  • purchase fresh or dried cannabis, cannabis oil, plants and seeds for cultivation from either a provincially or territorially regulated retailer, or — where this option is not available — directly from a federally licensed producer;
  • possess up to 30 grams of dried legal cannabis or its equivalent in public;
  • share up to 30 grams (or its equivalent) of legal cannabis and legal cannabis products with other adults;
  • cultivate up to four plants at home (four plants total per household); and
  • prepare varying types of cannabis products (e.g., edibles) at home for personal use provided that no dangerous organic solvents are used in the process.

Provinces, however, will each be taking their own approach to the finer details of legalization. Today's federal announcement means the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) will begin the transitional work necessary to prepare for legalization. This includes finalizing contracts with suppliers, stocking cannabis and selling and delivering cannabis to retail outlets.

The AGLC will also issue conditional licences to approved licensees, who may begin preparing their stores to open, but will not be allowed to sell any products until legalization.