Cannabis Use and Retail Stores

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Consultation has concluded

A cannabis leaf

The provincial government recently introduced new legislation and regulations to regulate the sale and use of recreational cannabis. The legislation provides that recreational cannabis may be made available in privately operated retail cannabis stores. Municipalities have until January 22, 2019 to pass a resolution to opt out of the retail sales. Municipalities that opt out can opt in at a later date, but cannot opt out after the January deadline.

The City cannot use zoning or licencing to prohibit retail sales and cannot set distance separations. The Province has set a 150 m (492 ft.) separation distance between school properties and a retail cannabis store.

Retail cannabis stores must be licenced by the Province. Notice of application for retail cannabis sales must be posted at the retail store and City Council will be given a period of 15 days in which to comment. AMO suggests that Councils adopt policies to guide the review of applications for retail store licences. The Province will make the final determination on the issuance of licences.

Niagara Falls City Council passed a motion that included obtaining public input on the use and sale of cannabis in Niagara Falls.

The provincial government recently introduced new legislation and regulations to regulate the sale and use of recreational cannabis. The legislation provides that recreational cannabis may be made available in privately operated retail cannabis stores. Municipalities have until January 22, 2019 to pass a resolution to opt out of the retail sales. Municipalities that opt out can opt in at a later date, but cannot opt out after the January deadline.

The City cannot use zoning or licencing to prohibit retail sales and cannot set distance separations. The Province has set a 150 m (492 ft.) separation distance between school properties and a retail cannabis store.

Retail cannabis stores must be licenced by the Province. Notice of application for retail cannabis sales must be posted at the retail store and City Council will be given a period of 15 days in which to comment. AMO suggests that Councils adopt policies to guide the review of applications for retail store licences. The Province will make the final determination on the issuance of licences.

Niagara Falls City Council passed a motion that included obtaining public input on the use and sale of cannabis in Niagara Falls.

Consultation has concluded

  • January 15, 2019: We're opting in

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    At the January 15, 2019 Council Meeting, Council voted to opt in to the Provincial Retail Cannabis Store program and adopt the Municipal Policy Statement on Cannabis for the purpose of reviewing and commenting on licence applications.

    The City will also harmonize its anti-smoking by-law with amendments to the Regional anti-smoking by-law and work with Regional Health in public consultation regarding additional public areas where tobacco, cannabis and related products can be smoked or consumed.

    And Council will send a resolution to the Province requesting that municipalities in Ontario be given greater regulatory controls over the location, distance separations and numbers of retail cannabis stores within a municipality.

    We thank everyone who contributed to the discussion by participating in our online survey or speaking at our Council Meeting. Final results of our survey are posted here.

    A copy of Staff's January 15 report to Council can be viewed here.