Amherstburg council votes to welcome private cannabis retail

The Town of Amherstburg joins Kingsville and Essex as municipalities that have said yes to private cannabis retail in Windsor-Essex.

Town council made the decision the day before the deadline of Jan. 22 during a special meeting. Mayor Aldo DiCarlo said the unrecorded vote was 5-1. He did not vote but told CBC News he is in favour of having such storefronts.

Even so, Amherstburg will not be permitted in this initial phase of private retail because the town's population is under 50,000. The same goes for Kingsville, Essex and Leamington.

Administration recommended the town not to opt out. 

The town conducted an online survey to understand the public's feelings about private marijuana retail. Out of the 110 responses, 82 were in favour of such storefronts. However, the survey was not restricted to town residents.

"The majority of residents who took the survey want cannabis retail stores, mostly quoting the possible increased tax revenue," reads a report to council.

DiCarlo said at public consultation meetings and through emails the city has received, a majority of the residents did not want the town to opt out.

Administration says in the report not permitting cannabis stores may lead to illegal dispensaries opening to meet public demand, "thus undermining efforts by all levels of government to prevent youth access." 

Incentives to opt in

The town has already received the first payment from the province to help deal with legalization matters of $11,733 — based on household numbers. Ontario has also set aside an additional $15 million for municipalities that say yes to retail stores.

"As we understand it, for the municipalities that opted in, we will continue to receive payment even though we won't have a store," said DiCarlo.

"The government was clearly creating incentives for municipalities to opt in."

DiCarlo wants to remind people that it's legal to grow your own marijuana plants. He said people might start growing them in their homes if they don't have a way to purchase them in a legal storefront.

"And realistically, I don't see how you can ever make someone get rid of plants that are perfectly legal to have, despite the fact that your neighbour may not like the smell and or the rodents that come with it."