The Town of Banff is gearing up for the legalization of pot in Canada next July. On Monday (Nov. 27), council passed first reading of a bylaw to include four cannabis-related definitions for the sale and use of weed.

The Town of Banff is gearing up for the legalization of pot in Canada next July.

On Monday (Nov. 27), council passed first reading of a bylaw to include four cannabis-related definitions for the sale and use of weed. A public hearing has been set for Jan. 22, 2018.

Officials say this is the first of what is believed will be a series of amendments to Banff’s land use bylaw to deal with proposed federal legislation to legalize the drug in July.

Over the past few months, the planning and development department has been approached by several businesses looking to open storefront dispensaries within the current legal framework.

Town planners say businesses are told of the unique legislative restrictions in Banff as a municipality in a national park, such as commercial growth management and parking and housing requirements associated with changes in use of commercial properties.

“These proposed additions would allow for greater clarity for businesses wishing to enter this market,” said David Michaels, Town of Banff’s development planner.

Showing a sense of humour, the Town of Banff is naming the proposed legislation on definitions for cannabis, storefront cannabis retail, cannabis-related and cannabis production facility – bylaw 420.

In cannabis culture, 420 refers to smoking pot at about 4:20 p.m. and in smoking and celebrating cannabis on the date of April 20. The origins of 420 are believed to reference to a small group of hippie stoners at a California high school in the early 1970s who used to meet at a designated location every day at 4:20 p.m. to smoke weed.

Meanwhile, under the existing provisions of Banff’s land use bylaw, all cannabis-related businesses would be defined as retail store, general land use. Development in each district must be in accordance with uses listed for that district.

Town planners say the proposed definitions in bylaw 420 will clarify how uses related to the sale and distribution of cannabis and cannabis-related products would be defined.

Randall McKay, director of planning and development, said it’s also to prevent a run on applications under the auspices of retail store, general.

“In the short term, these uses would not be permitted within the Town of Banff,” he said McKay.

“Specific use definitions will allow council to regulate pending and/or interim applications for cannabis-related uses once federal and provincial laws have come into full force and effect.”

Mayor Karen Sorensen said this continues to be an interesting topic, noting the draft bylaw is the municipality’s first step in moving forward.

“This is out of our hands and really, most of the decision-making is happening federally and provincially,” she said.

“The municipality has responsibility around things like zoning and retail locations and education.”

The proposed federal legislation will regulate cannabis production, but details of who can sell it and who can buy it will be largely left up to the provinces.

The proposed federal legislation would allow adults to possess up to 30 grams of legally-produced cannabis and allows adults to grow up to four cannabis plants per household.

It would also set the minimum age for purchase and use at 18 years of age, with the option for provinces to increase the age limit.