As Canada’s legalization of recreational cannabis approaches, some local municipal officials are calling on higher levels of government to address fears about young people obtaining the drug.

Starting Oct. 17, it will be legal for Canadians ages 19 and older to buy, grow, use and possess cannabis for recreational purposes.

Use will be legal only in private homes and their outdoor spaces – such as yards and porches or balconies – though rules in multi-unit homes may limit use. Use in public places, workplaces and motorized vehicles will be illegal.

Tyendinaga Township Reeve Rick Phillips raised the issue Wednesday in Belleville during a meeting of the Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Board of Health.

“Municipalities are concerned that there’s access (available) to students in the area,” said Phillips, a member of the board.

Even now, he said, his council has heard reports about students distributing marijuana in area schools.

“They can get it,” he said, adding that’s true even in elementary schools. “It’s becoming alarming to many parents.”

“It’s scary,” agreed board member and Tweed Mayor Jo-Anne Albert, a retired educator.

“We do need some guidelines.”

She said public education must be a large part of the effort to avoid harm.

Both said their councils will discuss the situation in closed meetings next week with Hastings-Lennox and Addington MPP Daryl Kramp.

“The legislative framework for cannabis is under development,” said medical officer of health Dr. Piotr Oglaza.

“At this point I don’t think we have anything concrete”

Oglaza said he and others are waiting for the government to release details of its legislation governing distribution of marijuana and regulating its use.

“That’s a big unknown,” he said.

He said staff are working with school boards. Oglaza pledged to study the matter further and report back to the board.

lhendry@postmedia.com