It’s no surprise to anyone that marijuana legalization is coming, and Cochranites are sharing mixed opinions about its landfall in their municipality.
Last week, the Town of Cochrane passed first reading for changes to the land use bylaw prescribing the rules to how stores selling cannabis will be allowed to set up shop. A public hearing is set ofr May 14.
Adding 50 metres to the 100-metre setback established by the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission would allow for a maximum of six marijuana retailers downtown.
Resident Kathy Martens said six such retailers are too many.
“I don’t know if I’d want people toking in the main part of the town. I think we have a really pretty town and I don’t know if that would contribute to making it such a pretty place,” she said. “I’d rather they be elsewhere.”
Janet Deboer doesn’t share the same opinion.
“I don’t think it’s too many… because of the population,” Deboer said. “I think downtown would be a good location because it’s a little more populated.”
Still, there are those who remain against the concept of legal marijuana altogether.
“I don’t think they should legalize it,” said one woman who didn’t wish to be identified due to the sensitive nature of the topic.
“It’s a harmful drug, and it leads to even harder drugs.”
The woman said she understands the need for the drug for medicinal purposes, but believes it shouldn’t be readily available in stores.
“We have a lot of impressionable kids here, I mean it’s a family community.”
Christine Sharman, who works at her mom’s store Global Pet Foods, believes six shops is too many.
“Cochrane is already saturated with business of the same kind. A: you don’t need that many, and B: I don’t think we need to draw that much attention to the downtown core,” she said.
However, she doesn’t believe a cannabis shop will be detrimental to the community, nor would it draw undesirables.
“It’s just going to draw more business.”
