Councillors in Toronto are preparing to discuss whether or not to permit retail cannabis shops in Canada’s largest city.
City staff are advising councillors to allow privately run cannabis stores, arguing that failing to do so could “would have the unintended consequence of encouraging the illegal market.”
This topic is on the agenda for today’s council meeting, following decisions from two nearby municipalities who voted against allowing pot shops.
On Wednesday, councillors in Mississauga and Markham chose to opt out of having privately operated retail cannabis stores, which are set to launch across Ontario next spring.
Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie and Markham’s Frank Scarpitti both expressed concerns over unanswered questions surrounding the issue.
Meanwhile, Toronto Mayor John Tory plans to introduce a motion in favor of allowing pot shops, while admitting he’s not happy with the current situation.
“To me, the option of saying there aren’t going to be any in Toronto leaves us in the situation we’re in now, where we have a lot of illegal pot shops,” Tory told local TV station CP24 on Wednesday night.
“And I don’t think we want this left in the hands of what amounts to organized crime.”
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