Cannabis became legal for recreational use on Wednesday, but that does not mean that it is legal to smoke whenever and wherever.

In Airdrie, there is one public consumption site for cannabis and it is a little out of the way. On the sidewalk leading from beside Main Street and trailing all the way to behind Co-op stands a lonely sign and bench. The sign says that smoking of cannabis is permitted within 5 meters of the sign.

Locals were not impressed to find only one site in such a difficult place to get to. Local Alexa Mac commented on Facebook that even though she does not regularly use cannabis, even she is not happy with the site.

"Seriously? The designated public space is a five-meter radius circle around a wooden post? I don't even partake and I think that's a little ridiculous. At least have a few different locations throughout this city. Who is going to go out of their way to travel across town, to walk into the middle of a field, and sit by a post, all so they can smoke their herb?"

Other locals voiced their concern about driving under the influence due to the distance one would need to walk to reach the site.

"So how are people going to get (there)? Drive? That's against the law to drive under the influence. You think they will walk? Probably not. The only place they are walking is to the pantry to grab a bag of Doritos or the fridge to grab a beverage. People who smoke will keep doing what they do. This was not a smart idea at all," said Airdrie local Tina Gandzalas on Facebook.

The public consumption site is on a trial period of one year, and, depending on the results, will dictate whether the city will go forward with sites like this or not.

Comments? Questions? Story ideas? Email us at news@discoverairdrie.com