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City council members in Mississauga and Markham have decided not to allow cannabis retail stores in their communities.
In a vote of 10-2 on Wednesday morning, the Mississauga city council turned down the idea of opening these stores for now.
Mayor Bonnie Crombie stated after the vote that there are “too many unanswered questions” regarding the private retail system introduced by the Ontario government this year.
“The province has not given municipalities any control over where cannabis stores can be located in our city. This is cause for great concern,” she wrote.
: Ontario government releases cannabis regulations for retail stores set to open in April
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“The City of Mississauga may decide to opt-in in the future. However, in the meantime, we will continue to consult and engage with our community. It’s important we take the time to get this right.”
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The Markham city council also opted out on Wednesday afternoon. A follow-up report is expected soon, outlining how marijuana legalization could impact their community.
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According to provincial laws, municipalities have until Jan. 22 to opt-out one last time. Retailers can begin operating as soon as April 1.
: Toronto staff recommend allowing cannabis retail stores to operate in city
The rules would permit standalone shops to be open every day from 9 a. m. until 11 p. m., but they must be located at least 150 metres away from schools and cannot let anyone under age 19 enter.
The application process for licenses starts on Dec. 17, but those who ran illegal cannabis shops after legalization on Oct. 17 won’t qualify for a license.
Meanwhile, Toronto’s city council plans to discuss whether or not to opt-in during a meeting set for Thursday.
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