Markham just banned cannabis smoking in public

Oct 17 2018, 1:19 am

The City of Markham just banned cannabis smoking in public areas.

In a Special Council Meeting held Tuesday, Markham City Council passed a local Cannabis bylaw prohibiting smoking pot outside of private residences.

According to the bylaw, “no person shall smoke or vaporize Cannabis, or hold or otherwise use lit Cannabis in any Public Place, including but not limited to” areas like municipal parks, public parking lots, community centres, roads and highways, schools, shopping centres, and “any other location or area owned by the city.”

Anyone found guilty of an offence under this bylaw shall be subject to the following penalties:
a) On a first conviction, there will be a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500.
b) On a second or subsequent conviction for the same offence, there’s a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000.
c) On convictions for multiple offences, for each offence included users will receive a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000.

In August, Markham chose to opt-out of having legal cannabis stores in its city.

“Mayor Scarpitti applauds the Ford Government on allowing municipalities to have a say on whether or not retail outlets will be permitted” read a statement from the office of Mayor Frank Scarpitt, at the time.

“When approached by the previous provincial government to be one of the first locations, Mayor Scarpitti rejected that opportunity and subsequently Markham Council also passed a motion rejecting a retail outlet.”

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