Calgary City Council’s Executive Committee have forwarded a plan to allow cannabis sales at age-gated events in the city.

The Planning & Development Services Report, which was created at the behest of council on February 25, was forwarded to city council during a committee meeting on April 15 for consideration on April 29, 2025. The committee voted 6-4 to send the recommendation to council, with councillors Dan McLean, Andre Chabot, Jennifer Wyness, and Sonya Sharp voting against.

Council had directed city staff to present any proposed changes to any relevant city legislation to allow for licensed cannabis sales at 18-and-up events in the city. Alberta first changed provincial law to allow such activities in 2024, allowing cities to then permit such sales in their jurisdiction. Edmonton enacted similar changes last year.

Calgary’s proposed amendments, approved by the committee on April 15, bring the city’s business licence bylaw into alignment with provincial policy and provide the opportunity for cannabis store operators in Calgary to take part in these kinds of sales at events. 

The city’s proposed amendments will allow an existing cannabis store licensee to sell cannabis at a mobile business unit and conduct temporary sales at a minors-prohibited entertainment event. An existing cannabis store licensee will not be required to get a separate licence to operate such a business. 

Provincial regulators with the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) will be in charge of inspecting and enforcing the temporary retail cannabis store at any minors-prohibited events. 

City of Calgary event approvals and inspection processes will remain unchanged by the new rules and will continue to be coordinated across business units and partner agencies, such as inspection of the cannabis consumption area and issuance of the temporary occupancy load card. 

Cannabis purchased from a licensed mobile retailer at an event will only be allowed to be consumed in an approved cannabis consumption area.

City staff noted public health concerns from officials with Alberta Health Services (AHS), whose recommendations include limiting sales to cannabis or alcohol, but not allowing both, and limiting cannabis sold at events to low THC products.

City Councillor Kourtney Penner, who first brought the motion to council earlier this year, previously told her council members that the goal of the bylaw change was to ensure the city can better regulate these activities. 

“What this isn’t, is creating an open and permissive environment to use cannabis at those festivals,” said Penner. “We already have regulation that defines where it can be used. So it’s not about a puff of smoke or a waft of smoke that you’re walking through. It is simply about creating a safer environment for sales on sites, just as we create a safe sales environment for alcohol. This is a legal substance where adults are making adult choices on what they choose to consume.”

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