Booze, pot OK’d for May long

By COLLIN GALLANT on May 17, 2019.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

For the first time in years, Cypress Hills Interprovincial park will not see a liquor ban imposed this weekend, which stands as the unofficial kickoff to the camping season.

Nor will the province follow Saskatchewan’s lead by prohibiting cannabis use in provincial parks during the May long weekend.

Typically, smoking pot is allowed with some conditions in parks on both sides of the provincial boundary.

This weekend though the two sides have different standards after Saskatchewan added marijuana to its blanket province-wide alcohol ban, but Alberta lifted booze ban in all but eight locations leading up to the weekend.

Late Thursday, the province announced those would be lifted as well as the incoming government considered such bans a “war on fun” enacted by the “nanny state.”

Local park administrators on the Alberta side are predicting a peaceful, enjoyable weekend, partly because of a wet forecast and generally well-behaved visitors.

“I would hope that everyone who comes out will generally respect those in the next campsite over,” said Mike Radcliffe, head of visitor experience in Elkwater.

“If there are problems we deal with them, but campers are generally respectful of each other.”

The forecast calls for rain to continue through Saturday and highs only in the mid-teens through the rest of the weekend.

Since 2004, Alberta Parks has barred liquor to deter noise and unruly behaviour during the springtime holiday.

This year’s liquor ban in eight parks across the province temporarily won’t allow beer, wine or spirits, though none in the southeast region.

As for cannabis, Alberta provincial parks employ the blanket standard set down last summer. Similar to tobacco use, cannabis can be used in public, but areas around buildings and playgrounds are restricted.

Typically, cannabis can be smoked in a registered campsite, but not near washrooms, beaches, playgrounds or day-use facilities. Conservation officers have the ability to crack down on inappropriate behaviour to preserve safety and enjoyment of visitors, and the policy is being monitored, according to the Alberta Parks website.

Cannabis cannot be smoked in a motor vehicle at any time, though a camper or recreational vehicles that are stationary and set up are considered temporary residences.

The Saskatchewan bans went into effect Thursday and expire Monday.

That is “due to concerns or disturbances and vandalism from intoxication in parks during the May long weekend,” a statement from that government ministry states.

The ban affects all campsites and picnic areas, but not cabins, within Saskatchewan’s provincial parks and recreation sites.

Parks Canada’s website states that on trails and in the back country, visitors should be aware of fire risks.

Despite a generally dry spring, the fire risk in the western block of the park is low.

Radcliffe expects moisture to green up the area well, but lead to some no shows for reserved sites. He said some first-come, first-served spaces were open Thursday afternoon, and overflow is also available.

Administrators with the municipally operated Gas City Campground in Medicine Hat state the facility is near capacity after a few last minute cancellations.

While there is no fire restriction at the Interprovincial Park, a fire restriction order posted in March for Cypress County is still in effect. That bans open fires, fireworks and cancels fire permits.

Fire advisories have been in place in the counties of Forty Mile and Newell since April.

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