Cannabis Consumption Bylaw

Stony Plain, Alberta

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot f5179978e0f3 · verified 2026-06-08 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

BYLAW 2665/G/22 BEING A BYLAW OF THE TOWN OF STONY PLAIN IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA RESTRICTING THE CONSUMPTION OF CANNABIS WITHIN THE CORPORATE BOUNDARIES OF THE TOWN OF STONY PLAIN. WHEREAS, the Cannabis Act (S.C. 2018, c. 16) provides legal access to Cannabis and to control and regulate its production, distribution and sale; and WHEREAS, the Province of Albe11a has enacted the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act, (RSA 2000 cG-1 which places restrictions on the smoking or vaping of Cannabis in public places; and WHEREAS, Section 7, Part 2, Division 1 of the Municipal Government Act, RSA 2000, c. M-26, and amendments thereto, authorizes a Council to pass bylaws for municipal purposes respecting the safety, health and welfare of people and the protection of people and property; and respecting people activities and things in, on or near a public place or place that is open to the public; and WHEREAS, Council deems it necessary to establish a bylaw to impose additional restrictions on the smoking, vaping and other forms of consumption of Cannabis in public places to regulate a negative impact on the enjoyment of public places. NOW THEREFORE, the Council of the Town of Stony Plain in the Province of Alberta, duly assembled, hereby enacts the following: 1.0.0 Title 1.1.0 This bylaw may be cited as the "Cannabis Consumption Bylaw". 2.0.0 Definitions In this bylaw, except where otherwise defined or specified: 2.1.0 "Cannabis" has the meaning given to it in the Cannabis Act_(S. C. 2018, c. 16); 2.2.0 "Cannabis Act" means the Cannabis Act, (S.C. 2018, c. 16); 2.3.0 "Cannabis Plant" means a plant that belongs to the genus Cannabis. 2.4.0 "Municipal Tag" means a ticket alleging an offence is issued pursuant to the authority of a bylaw of the Municipality. 2.5.0 "Notice" means any Notice issued pursuant to this bylaw to remedy a condition that is not in compliance with any provision of this bylaw or any applicable bylaw within the Municipality of Stony Plain including the Land Use Bylaw. 2.6.0 "Occupier or Occupants" means residing on, in, or to be in apparent possession or control of Premises or Property. 2.7.0 "Officer" means Bylaw Enforcement Officers, Peace Officers, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (R.C.M.P), as the context may require. 2.8.0 "Peace Officer" means a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (R.C.M.P), or a Community Peace Officer appointed pursuant to the Peace Officer Act, S.A. 2006, c. P-3.5 2.9.0 "Premises" means any external surfaces of all Structures and the whole or part of any parcel of real Property, including Property immediately adjacent to any Structure and includes all forms of vegetation and including any Property or Structures owned or leased by the Municipality. 2.10.0 "Property" means: 1. in the case of land, a parcel of land including any Structures; or, u. in other cases, personal Property. 2.11.0 "Public Place" means: 1. any place within the municipality to which the public may have either expressed or implied access, and; BYLAW 2665/G/22 Page2 11. any motor vehicle located in a Public Place or in any place open to public view. 2.12.0 "Smoke or Smoking" means: 1. inhaling or exhaling the Smoke produced by burning or heating Cannabis: or 11. holding or otherwise having control of any device or thing containing lit or heated Cannabis 2.13 .0 "Structure" means any Structure, including but not limited to a building, shed, accessory building or other similar types of construction. 2.14.0 "Vape or Vaping" means: 1. inhaling or exhaling the vapour, emissions or aerosol produced by an electronic Smoking device or similar device containing Cannabis, or 11. holding or otherwise having control of an electronic device that is producing vapour, emissions or aerosol from Cannabis. 2.15.0 "Violation Ticket" means the same as in the Provincial Offences Procedure Act, R.S.A 2000, Chapter P-34 as amended or repealed and replaced from time to time. 3.0.0 Prohibition 3 .1.0 A person must not Smoke, attempt to Smoke, Vape or consume Cannabis in any Public Place within Town Limits. 3.2.0 A person who is entitled to possess Cannabis pursuant to a medical document issued pursuant to the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations,_SOR/2016-230 is not subject to this bylaw. 3 .2.1 A person referred to in Section 3 .2.0 must, on demand of an Officer, produce a copy of the person's medical document. 3 .3 .0 An owner or Occupier of a Property must ensure the Cannabis Plants are contained on the Property away from public access in a secure Structure or in a secure fence. 3 .4.0 No person may transport what appears to be Cannabis in a vehicle unless it is contained in closed packaging that is out of the reach of the driver and other Occupants of the vehicle. 4.0.0 Powers of Peace Officers 4.1.0 Inspections 4.1.1 The Medical Officer of Health, a Peace Officer, CAO or designate are hereby authorized in accordance with Section 542 of the Municipal Government Act to enter into any Premises or Property after giving reasonable Notice to the owner of the Premises or Property to be inspected; and to inspect for conditions that may contravene or fail to comply with the provisions of this bylaw. 4.1.2 A Peace Officer, when investigating an alleged contravention of this bylaw may also issue a Violation Ticket. 4.2.0 Penalties and Enforcement 4.2.1 Any person who contravenes any sections and provisions of this bylaw is guilty of an offence and is liable for the penalty set out in Schedule A of this bylaw. 4.2.2 When a person is alleged to have contravened any provision of this Bylaw, a Peace Officer may issue a Violation Ticket pursuant to the Provincial Offences Procedure Act, R.S.A 2000c. P-24. 4.2.3 A person who is guilty of an offence is liable to a fine in an amount not less than that established by Schedule A of this Bylaw, and not exceeding $10, 000 and to imprisonment for not more than six months for non-payment of a fine. BYLAW 2665/G/22 Page3 4.2.4 If a Municipal Tag is issued in respect of an offence the Municipal Tag must specify the fine amount established by Schedule A of this Bylaw for the offence. 4.2.5 A person who commits an offence may, if a Municipal Tag is issued in respect of the offence, pay the fine amount established by this Bylaw for the offence and if the amount is paid on or before the required date, the person will not be prosecuted for the offence. 4.2.6 If a Violation Ticket is issued in respect of an offence, the Violation Ticket may: 1. specify the fine amount established by this bylaw for the offence, or 11. require a person to appear in court without the alternative of making a voluntary payment 4.2. 7 A person who commits an offence may: 1. if a Violation Ticket is issued in respect of the offence; and 11. if the Violation Ticket specifies the fine amount established by this bylaw for the offence, make a voluntary payment equal to the specified fine. 4.2.8 In the case of an offence that is of a continuing nature, a contravention constitutes a separate offence in respect of each day, or part of a day, on which the offence continues and any person guilty of such an offence is liable to a fine in an amount not less than that established by this Bylaw for each such day. 4.2.9 A person shall not obstruct or hinder any person in the exercise of performance of the person's powers pursuant to this Bylaw. 5.0.0 Inspections 5.1.0 A copy of a record of the Municipality, certified as a true copy of the original, shall be admitted in evidence as prima facie proof of the facts stated in the record without proof of the appointment or signature of the person signing it. 5 .2.0 Nothing in this Bylaw relieves a person from complying with any provision of any federal, provincial or municipal law or regulation or any requirement of any lawful pennit, order or license. 6.0.0 Severability 6.1.0 If any section or part of this bylaw are found in any court of law to be illegal or beyond the power of Council to enact, such section or paits shall be deemed to be severable and all other section or paits of this bylaw shall be deemed to be separate and independent there from and to be enacted as such. 7.0.0 Review 7.1.0 This bylaw shall be reviewed within its fou1th year, being 2026, or as deemed necessary. 8.0.0 Repeal 8.1.0 Bylaw 2595/G/18, and amendments are hereby repealed. 9.0.0 Effective Date 9 .1.0 This bylaw shall take full force and effect on the date it is passed. Read a first time this 22nd day of August, AD 2022. Read a second time this 22 nd day of August, AD 2022. Given unanimous consent this 22 nd day of August, AD 2022. Read a third time this 22nd day of August, AD 2022. BYLAW 2665/G/22 Page4 B~ al Manager Corporate & Strategic Services BYLAW 2665/G/22 Page5 Schedule A - Penalties :, Section Specified ;1 Penalty 3.1.0 $300 3.2.l $300 3.3.0 $300 3.4.0 $300