Nearly eight years after federal legalization, Georgian Bluffs council is ready to re-examine its stance barring retail cannabis stores from operating in the township.
Township council resolved at its meeting on July 15 to explore a potential cannabis retail framework in more depth by having staff complete an economic development analysis.
Georgian Bluffs is among just 13 per cent of Ontario’s 444 municipalities which continue to “opt-out” of allowing retail cannabis stores.
“It’s certainly a source of revenue and taxation for us, I’d be interested in learning more,” Georgian Bluffs Coun. Cathy Moore Coburn says.
Georgian Bluffs Coun. Rick Winters: “I think it’s time we review that and I think it makes sense.”
The Cannabis Act became federal law in October 2018, legalizing the possession, production, distribution and sale of marijuana products under a new regulated structure.
In Ontario, eligible retail store operators are licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
The first cannabis retail stores opened in Ontario in April 2019, three months after a deadline given to municipalities to decide whether they wanted to opt-in or opt-out to permitting brick-and-mortar shops marijuana shops.
According to the AGCO, a municipality that opted out can always choose to opt-in — but those opted-in cannot revert and go back to prohibiting cannabis retail stores.
In addition to Georgian Bluffs, two other municipalities in Grey Bruce continue to restrict retail cannabis stores from popping up: Southgate and Northern Bruce Peninsula.