Pot-specific bylaws needed in city

By Letter to the Editor on July 12, 2018.

I am a Grade 8 student at Crescent Heights High School. I am writing about the new marijuana factory coming to Medicine Hat. I think that the city did a great job of bringing new economic options to Medicine Hat, especially since the downturn of the oil and gas industry. Although this is great for our city, I still have some questions about what changes will be made. I think this is an important topic because a lot of adjustments will be made to the Hat and we need to know what to expect.

I think that it is wonderful that we are bringing more jobs and hopefully a stable industry to Medicine Hat but on the contrary, what will we have to expect? Will Medicine Hat be getting new bylaws? I think what Calgary is already preparing for is awesome and Medicine Hat should as well. Calgary has made a new bylaw that indicates that smoking marijuana can only be done on a person’s own private property. People cannot smoke cannabis in public places and cannabis can’t be smoked in vehicles.

I also have concerns about what will happen when the federal government legalizes recreational marijuana consumption. Will the Aurora Cannabis factory also sell cannabis for recreational use? With people knowing about the new factory being built in Medicine Hat, will there be an increased rate of crime and drug use? Our city is known as the sunniest city in Canada but will it become known as the Pot City?

Overall, I think Medicine Hat should be making bylaws to control how marijuana affects our city. Medicine Hat is doing a great job at bringing new business to our city.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and hopefully I can get my concerns answered.

Zoey Brevik

Medicine Hat

(This letter is part of a Grade 8 project at Crescent Heights High School directed by Mrs. M. Carlson.)