Local residents eager for an answer on whether the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury will opt in to allow cannabis retail stores were left high and dry Tuesday evening, as councillors voted to defer the decision until January.
Citing a need for more public feedback, the Committee of the Whole, which is made up of council members, decided to publish a survey on the town’s website in the near future and invite residents to share their opinions on cannabis retail stores at the next council meeting Jan. 8.
Despite the delay, several councillors spoke in support of opting in.
“Our largest employer is (licensed cannabis producer) MedReleaf. I believe in business; I believe in opportunity. I want to put the … low-level drug dealers out of business,” said Coun. Gary Lamb.
“I’m pretty in touch with the streets. I don’t see reefer madness going on. I don’t think this will be the Wild West. We’ll still have way more pizza shops than pot stores. Nobody in town complained when a grocery store … started selling (alcohol) until 11 p.m.”
It would be hypocritical if council voted to opt out, added Deputy Mayor James Leduc.
“I’m going to be in support (of opting in). We have the largest medical marijuana grower in the world in our community. That’s pretty hypocritical in my mind (if we opt out). We supported the grower — we have to deal with the issues,” he said.
“Alcohol was illegal at one time and now it’s not. It’s a legal product. It’s the 21st century.”
All committee members, except Coun. Peter Ferragine, voted in favour of delaying a vote on whether to opt in.
Ferragine declared pecuniary interest and left the room during the discussion and vote because, as a real-estate agent, he has shown clients properties in town for potential retail pot shops.
Town of BWG staff confirmed during Tuesday’s meeting that if the town decides to opt in to allow retail cannabis stores, it cannot opt out at a later time. Municipalities have until Jan. 22 to opt in.
As recently as last week, the provincial government has changed some rules around pot shops — capping the number of licences at 25 for the entire province for a year, selected through a lottery.
The government has broken up the province into several regions — BWG is the westernmost point of the east region, which goes to the Quebec border and includes Muskoka, Ottawa, Kingston and Brockville, said Rebecca Murphy, the Town of BWG’s clerk.
As well, the province has decided retail cannabis stores cannot be set up at this time in municipalities with populations less than 50,000, which would include BWG.
However, there are incentives for communities that decide to opt in anyway, including $15 million split between municipalities that agree to allow retail pot shops.
The government has also promised an additional $15 million to municipalities to help them cover costs related to cannabis legalization, with each community getting at least $5,000.
“Personally, I want to opt in because it’s legal, (but) I don’t like the blackmailing and the arm-twisting tactic of the province,” said BWG Coun. Raj Sandhu. “They’re forcing us, saying, ‘If you don’t opt in, we’re not going to give you any revenue flow.’ Is this some third-world country we’re living in?”
Coun. Mark Contois said he agreed the province is using “bullying tactics,” but he would hate to miss out on the “secondary money. The hundreds of millions of dollars that come after the fact (of opting in).”
Sandhu also questioned why the County of Simcoe will receive revenue “for doing nothing,” and asked whether it will contribute money for cannabis-related enforcement.
The county is in charge of costs for social and paramedic services, Murphy clarified, but she said the town could ask the county to give it money to help cover costs for frontline officers.
For Coun. Gary Baynes, he said his biggest concern about pot shops is where they will be located and where people will be allowed to smoke cannabis.
“I’m still bitter we have no control over the locations,” he said. “I’m really concerned about the stores next door.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, the committee voted to have town staff review and update its smoke-free public places bylaw to incorporate cannabis legalization.
Murphy also pointed out there are some guidelines around location, including stores must be about 46 metres away from the property line of schools, have a certain number of security cameras, and not display any cannabis for sale that can be viewed from outside.
“With all the changes with the province, I get very nervous,” said Coun. Peter Dykie Jr. “It’s going to be a big industry. I really hate to smell it… but business is business.”
The next council meeting, which will include an open forum for members of the public to share their opinions on retail cannabis stores, is Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Zima Room of the BWG Public Library.
