Red Deer council votes down cannabis store application near St. Joseph High School

He said the site is very visible and accessible to students. A number of the students frequent the businesses located there, such as Domino’s, Dairy Queen, and others.

Gary Gylander, principal of St. Joseph High School, said increasing the exposure to youth impacts the safety and well-being of the community.

He said that approximately 150 students within the high school are of age to legally buy cannabis. He has concerns that those students could potentially distribute the product to other students.

“We have seen in our schools an increase in the use of cannabis and most of the time the difference between alcohol is that it’s very hard to detect because it comes in various forms,” Gylander said. “For our staff and our community, this is a huge concern.”

The site is currently zoned as a mixed-use commercial zone and is located in Timberlands North, but an amendment was required because the zone does not allow cannabis retail sales.

Administration stated that the proposed location met the cannabis retail sales regulations in section 4.60 of the zoning bylaw, as the location is beyond the minimum 150 metres separation distance from a school, another cannabis retail location, a daycare, etc. It is also not co-located or adjacent to a site with a microbrewery, liquor, beer, and wine sales.

Ryan Sawatzky, owner of three commercial sites in Timberlands, including the site in question, said he understands the concerns but argued that it should be passed because the site is outside the required 150-metre threshold distance from the high school.

“We’ve struggled a bit to lease out space in Thorburn Avenue, so this has been one opportunity for us to fill that space with a responsible retailer and continue to pay our taxes. Vacancies aren’t pleasurable for a commercial developer. We are respecting the 150 metre distance, which we think is reasonable,” he said, adding AGLC requirements restrict children from accessing cannabis stores. “At the end of the day, we do believe this is a responsible retailer.”

Jason Volk, CEO of Lux Leaf Cannabis, said that, unlike liquor stores, the inventory is locked in a vault and only AGLC-licensed staff can handle the product. He said there are strict reporting requirements for what products went in and out of the shop, adding there is, according to him, a shortage of cannabis shops in the community.

Volk said statistics show that since cannabis legalization in Canada, cannabis use among high schoolers between the ages of 15-17 has dropped five per cent, from 15 per cent to 10 per cent.

“There are less youth using cannabis today than there was in 2017 before it was legalized,” he said.

Concerns among councillors who were opposed include the proximity of the store to the school, health effects of using cannabis at a young age, desensitization to the product, among others.

Councillor Adam Goodwin said that when he was studying neuroscience, he learned that cannabis use harms the developing brain.

“If I’m going to err, I’m going to err on the side of caution when it comes to risk to youth,” Goodwin said.

Some were torn, trying to balance community concerns and the fact that the application meets all requirements.

Councillor Tristin Brisbois originally said she couldn’t support second and third readings but changed her mind when it came time to vote.

Mayor Cindy Jefferies said while she respects the concerns raised, she wishes that a proximity regulation alone could save kids. She believes the store had enough regulations to be safe to have near a school.

“I don’t believe for a second being within 150 or 300 metres of a cannabis store changes the equation at all,” she said, adding that students will drive, Uber, bike, and catch a ride with other classmates if need be.

“As a parent of three, now grown adults, I think if you wanted access at any point in time, you’re going to get it.”

by Ian Gustafson

Red Deer council votes down cannabis store application near St. Joseph High School

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