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Bracebridge bylaw proposes wait and see approach to cannabis enforcement

For now, cannabis will be treated like tobacco from a bylaw perspective in Bracebridge.

Despite cannabis now being a legal, but controlled substance, the bylaw officer for the town Scott Stakiw sent a memo to council explaining his unit’s approach going forward.

Stakiw writes in his memo that cannabis and tobacco smoke will be dealt with in similar fashion with an emphasis on eliminating secondhand smoke as a threat to residents.

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act was amended to reflect,  “whether the smoke is generated by tobacco, cannabis consumed for recreational purposes or cannabis consumed for medicinal purposes,” all have negative health implications.

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Stakiw also confirms that condominium corporations can continue to deal with their own rules or amendments.

He points out that should the town restrict the use of cannabis that enforcement of such a bylaw would fall on the municipal bylaw office and not the police. Therefore he recommends a “wait and see approach to the recent changes in provincial legislation and monitor any potential impacts to the municipality and on the community at large before giving any consideration to the implementation of a smoking by-law.”

Stakiw further points out that only aspects of smoking cannabis can be enforced by a Tobacco Enforcement Officer, but that there would no oversight in terms of enforcement for possession, purchase, sale, distribution, transport.

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