Foster’s Meats – Morning Coffee

Weather forecast for Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Today – A mix of sun and cloud with 30 percent chance of showers. Wind southwest 20 km/h becoming northwest 30 gusting to 50 near noon. High 10. UV index 4 or moderate.

Tonight – Partly cloudy. 30 percent chance of showers early this evening. Wind northwest 30 km/h gusting to 50 becoming light this evening. Low minus 2 with frost. Wind chill minus 3 overnight.

Canada’s New Cannabis Act

More details, here.

C-K Police Service: Cannabis Act

The Chatham-Kent Police Service has been closely monitoring provincial and federal legislation regulating cannabis.

The Cannabis Act, which creates a strict legal framework controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis, comes into effect on October 17, 2018.

We recognize that the introduction of Bill C-45 has prompted questions from the community regarding traffic safety and the specifics of how cannabis will be able to be consumed, purchased, grown and distributed.

Please see link for Q & A regarding Ontario’s Cannabis Act https://www.ontario.ca/page/cannabis-legalization#section-2

Ontario Government: Cannabis legalization

Ontario’s new rules will keep the people of Ontario safe once cannabis is made legal by the federal government on October 17, 2018.

Overview

When cannabis is legalized on October 17, 2018, Ontario’s Government for the People will be ready with rules that keep cannabis out of the hands of children and youth, and keep our roads safe.

Ontario will have laws in place (after extensive public and stakeholder engagement) about how, where and who can buy and possess cannabis in the province. The government has also introduced legislation that, if passed, would help the province move forward with a tightly regulated private retail model for cannabis that would launch by April 1, 2019.

Medical cannabis will continue to be subject to different rules than recreational cannabis.

If you have questions, comments or feedback about our approach, contact the Province.

Minimum age will be 19

You will need to be 19 and older to buy, use, possess and grow recreational cannabis. This is the same as the minimum age for the sale of tobacco and alcohol in Ontario.

Where to use it

The government has proposed legislation that, if passed, would provide the following rules for using cannabis, both medical and recreational.

Where you could smoke and vape cannabis*

– Private residences – this does not include residences that are also workplaces (e.g. long-term care and/or retirement homes)

– Many outdoor public places (e.g. sidewalks, parks)

– Designated guest rooms in hotels, motels and inns

– Residential vehicles and boats that meet certain criteria (e.g. have permanent sleeping accommodations and cooking facilities, and are parked or anchored)

– Scientific research and testing facilities (if the cannabis use is for scientific research and testing purposes)

Controlled areas in:

– long-term care homes

– certain retirement homes

– residential hospices

– provincially-funded supportive housing

– designated psychiatric facilities or veterans’ facilities

*Additional restrictions on smoking and vaping may exist in municipal bylaws, lease agreements, and the policies of employers and property owners.

Where you could not smoke or vape cannabis

Indoors

You would not be able to smoke or vape cannabis in:

– indoor common areas in condos, apartment buildings and university/college residences

– enclosed public places and enclosed work places

– non-designated guest rooms in hotels, motels and inns

– Schools and places where children gather

You would not be able smoke or vape cannabis:

– at school, on school grounds, and all public areas within 20m of these grounds

– on children’s playgrounds and public areas within 20m of playgrounds

– in child care centres, or where an early years program is provided

– in places where home child care is provided – even if children aren’t present

– Hospitals, hospices, care homes and other facilities

You would not be able to smoke or vape cannabis:

– within 9m from the entrance or exit of hospitals (public/private), psychiatric facilities, long-term care homes, independent health facilities

– on outdoor grounds of hospitals (public/private) and psychiatric facilities
in non-controlled areas in long-term care homes, certain retirement homes, provincially-funded supportive housing, designated psychiatric or veterans’ facilities, and residential hospices

Publicly owned spaces

You would not be able to smoke or vape cannabis in publicly-owned sport fields (not including golf courses), nearby spectator areas and public areas within 20m of these areas.

Vehicles and boats

You would not be able to consume cannabis (smoking, vaping, eating) in a vehicle or boat that is being driven or is at risk of being put into motion.

Other outdoor areas

You would not be able to smoke or vape cannabis:

– in restaurants and on bar patios and public areas within 9m of a patio

– on outdoor grounds of specified Ontario government office buildings

– in reserved seating areas at outdoor sports and entertainment locations

– grounds of community recreational facilities, and public areas within 20m of those grounds

– in sheltered outdoor areas with a roof and more than two walls which the public or employees frequent, or are invited to (e.g. a bus shelter)

Driving

Using cannabis and driving is illegal and dangerous. Cannabis, like many other drugs, slows your reaction time and increases your chances of being in a collision.

If a police officer finds that you are impaired by any drug, including cannabis, you will face serious penalties, including:

– an immediate licence suspension

– financial penalties

– possible vehicle impoundment

– possible criminal record

– possible jail time

– Police officers will be authorized to use oral fluid screening devices at roadside. Once a federally approved device is available, we will implement the use of those devices to help police enforce the law.

Learn what counts as impaired driving and the penalties you could face for it.

Zero tolerance for young, novice and commercial drivers

You will not be allowed to have any cannabis in your system (as detected by a federally approved oral fluid screening device) if you are driving a motor vehicle and:

– you are 21 or under

– have a G1, G2, M1 or M2 licence

– the vehicle you are driving requires an A-F driver’s licence or Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration (CVOR)

– you are driving a road-building machine

Learn more about zero tolerance for young, novice and commercial drivers.

Where to buy recreational cannabis

When it’s legal, people 19 and over will be able to purchase cannabis online through the Ontario Cannabis Store. Online orders will be delivered safely and securely. Consumers will be required to verify their age to accept delivery and no packages will be left unattended at the door.

You will be able to purchase up to 30 grams (about one ounce) of dried recreational cannabis at one time for personal use.

As of October 17, 2018, the Ontario Cannabis Store website will be the only legal option for purchasing recreational cannabis. It will follow strict rules set by the federal government.

The government has also introduced legislation that, if passed, would help the province move forward with a tightly regulated private retail model for cannabis that would launch by April 1, 2019. The legislation would establish the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) as the provincial regulator authorized to grant store licences. The Ontario Cannabis Store would be the exclusive wholesaler to these stores. Private stores would be introduced with strict controls to safeguard children and youth and combat the illegal market.

How much cannabis you will be able to possess

You will be able to have a maximum of 30 grams (about one ounce) of dried cannabis in public at any time.

Growing cannabis

You will be able to grow up to four plants per residence (not per person).

Rules for the workplace

Ontario currently has strict rules in place to make sure workplaces are safe.

Consuming recreational cannabis in the workplace is illegal and will continue to be after legalization on October 17, 2018.

Employers (and supervisors):

– need to know the rules for medical cannabis

– will be required to address workplace hazards, under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)

Employees and workers:

– who are unable or unfit to work safely could be a hazard to themselves or to others in the workplace
have a duty to perform work safely and to report any hazards to their supervisor or employer under the OHSA
See additional rules related to cannabis use in the workplace, including for commercial driving, where you can use recreational cannabis and using medical cannabis in the workplace.

Medical cannabis

Medical cannabis is subject to different rules than recreational cannabis. The production and sale of medical cannabis is regulated exclusively by the federal government.

If a health care professional has already authorized you to use cannabis for medical reasons, your access will not change when recreational cannabis is legal.

The only way to purchase medical cannabis is from:

– a federally licensed producer online

– by written order

– over the phone and delivered by secure mail

– You can also receive a licence from Health Canada to grow medical cannabis on your own, or designate someone else to grow it on your behalf.

Learn more about accessing cannabis for medical purposes.

What you said

Ontario consulted extensively to inform the approach to the legalization of cannabis, including with:

– other jurisdictions that already legalized cannabis

– public health experts

– law enforcement

– municipalities