Recommendations from Lacombe's Cannabis Readiness Committee have been endorsed by council and now city administration will prepare a bylaw to enact them.

The advisory body is proposing land use regulations for retail that are considered less restrictive than nearby municipalities, making it a permitted use in certain commercial districts.

Coun. Jonathan Jacobson sits on the committee, and isn't worried about the city being overrun with pot shops.

“Cannabis is extraordinarily prevalent and the fact that we’re legalizing it, there’s not going to be some sort of mad rush to now consume,” Jacobson said.

“The only people who are going to consume now who weren’t previously, are by definition, law-abiding citizens. Because previously they weren’t consuming because it was against the law. By definition, those citizens are going to be very sensitive to bylaw standards. I do believe it is a bit of a red herring to worry about a reefer madness epidemic taking over the city.”

Retail licences are awarded by the AGLC, and the application process includes background checks and hundreds of dollars in fees. There is no cap on the number of licences in the province.