MEDICINE HAT, AB — Residents are continuing to voice their opinions when it comes to legalizing cannabis.
The City of Medicine Hat launched an online public survey on January 31st.
It has already received more responses than any other survey the city has done.
Mayor Ted Clugston said the numbers already double the response the city got for the Financially Fit survey.
While the cannabis survey was launched more than a month ago, roughly 200 surveys are being submitted every day.
“Right now the response rate is around that 50 per cent of people who personally think it shouldn’t be legalized at all and those that are accepting of the legalization,” he said.
The survey is on pace to collect from about 10 per cent of the city’s total population.
Early results show that while not everyone agrees with the legalization, residents do seem to agree on a few things.
“People that have responded, they do want to see it not retailed anywhere near schools,” Clugston added. “I think that’s fairly consistent, whether you agree with the legalization or not.”
Residents are also in favour of seeing it under similar regulations as alcohol, instead of tobacco.
“Obviously this is a very contentious issue for some people and it is, it’s really a transformational change in 100 years,” he said.
The Town of Redcliff launched a survey for its residents earlier this week.
The questions are similar to the one asked in the Medicine Hat survey.
Arlos Crofts, municipal manager with the Town of Redcliff, said a handful of residents in town were quick to respond. In the first 24 hours, staff saw upwards of 200 completed surveys submitted.
“The core aspects of the survey are relevant to where the town has a little bit of flexibility in implementing regulations,” he said. “That includes the locations, the operating hours, public consumption, as well as development setbacks and what not.”
The town will also be hosting two open house events for residents who have more questions about the regulations.
“The data gathered through the public survey and the public consultation process will be provided to the decision makers,” Crofts said.
“The larger the response rate, the more easily council can make a decision on this,” Clugston added.
Town and city staff will use these results to determine what needs to happen in the coming months.
“Council will take this very seriously,” Clugston said. “We’re not going to make everybody happy of course, ‘cause there’s some people that think it absolutely should not be retailed in Medicine Hat and there will be people that think it should be on every corner like a Starbucks.”
For a link to the Medicine Hat survey, which closes on March 14th, click here.
For a link to the Redcliff survey, which closes on March 31st, click here.
