By Ashley Wiebe

Survey results show mixed feelings towards cannabis legalization

Apr 10, 2018 | 5:04 PM

REDCLIFF, AB — The results are in and the people of Redcliff have had their say.

An online survey launched last month asked questions about the impending legalization of cannabis, including what some of the biggest concerns are.

Councillors have seen the results, but one councillor believes the town isn’t putting residents first.

The survey gathered 467 responses, a small percentage of the town’s population.

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“I believe the people that filled out the surveys had the want and desire to fill them out because only 8.3 per cent of the people of Redcliff actually filled them out,” said Mayor Dwight Kilpatrick.

Results show 63 per cent of people say they’re concerned with consuming cannabis in public and many also agree they’re concerned about the odour from public consumption.

Kilpatrick said there were some people who also said they don’t agree with the legalization, even though it’s coming.

“I think some people believe that if we don’t have a store in Redcliff, we won’t have marijuana in Redcliff,” he said.

“We don’t have a shoe store in Redcliff. We’re all wearing shoes.”

“People don’t want it,” said councillor Jim Steinke. “They don’t want the legalization of it, which is going to happen anyway. The legalization, we’ve got no control over that. That’s going to happen but do we have to have the store in Redcliff? I really don’t think so.”

Steinke said of the people he’s spoken with, many don’t want to see a cannabis store in town.

The survey asked where stores should be located. Many said either in the light industrial area or the general commercial areas.

45 per cent responded with ‘Don’t want stores in Redcliff’.

“People always say, put out a survey, find out what the people want, don’t just make up a rule according to how you feel,” Steinke said. “Well, we did put a survey out and in my opinion it wasn’t followed.”

Kilpatrick said council is trying to be fair while keeping residents concerns in mind moving forward, even though 53 per cent said it’s ‘very unlikely’ they’d purchase cannabis from a store.

59 per cent said it’s ‘very unlikely’ they would purchase cannabis online.

“It is going to be a bit more challenging to bring in a retail store for cannabis than a retail store for clothing or anything like that, but the public cares more about that too,” Kilpatrick said.

To read the results, click here.