West Island cities ban smoking cannabis in public places

Smoking cannabis marijuana (Pe3k / Shutterstock)

A couple of cities in the West Island have taken clear stances against smoking cannabis in public places.

Pointe-Claire City Council passed a bylaw that forbids cannabis consumption in all public places, which came into effect on October 17, the same day that recreational marijuana became legal across the country.

The ban, adopted on October 2, covers a wide area of municipal facilities and public spaces in the West Island.

“As with alcohol consumption, it will be forbidden to consume cannabis on sidewalks, bicycle paths, pedestrian trails, parks, and in all outdoor aquatic and sports facilities, including municipal buildings,” stated the mayor of Pointe-Claire, John Belvedere. “We are counting on everyone’s cooperation to ensure this new by-law is followed, for the benefit of all.”

The penalties for a first offence range from $500 to $1,500 and from $1,000 to $3,000 for repeat offenders. The City of Pointe-Claire’s Inspection – Public Security (IPS) Department and the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) will be responsible for ensuring citizens comply with the new by-law.

Pointe-Claire also noted that “the sale of cannabis by the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) is permitted in commercial zones throughout the city.”

In Beaconsfield, the city adopted a similar amendment to their nuisance by-law, banning smoking by any means on all public property, including electronic cigarettes, tobacco and cannabis.

The city’s by-law now stipulates that “smoking tobacco products as well as any other products or substances, whether natural or chemical, that may be smoked by any means, including electronic cigarettes or any other device of this nature is prohibited on public property, excluding streets, alleys and sidewalks.”

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