Sarnia's mayor welcomes the province's decision to allow municipalities to opt out of permitting physical cannabis retail stores within their boundaries.
Mayor Mike Bradley is pleased that municipalities will at least be given the choice during a yet unspecified "one-time window."
"How they're going to determine public opinion though is going to be the big question," says Bradley. "It's unfortunate that this didn't happen earlier this year because we could have put it on the ballot as a question to the public to give their input. It's too late to do that. But, I think that the fact that it will be a local question, a very debatable question, is good. I've always welcomed a public, participatory, democracy."
The Ontario government announced Monday that starting October 17, consumers 19 and older will be able to buy cannabis through an online retail platform provided by the Ontario Cannabis Store.
A tightly regulated model for the sale of pot in private retail stores will be launched by April 1, 2019.
Mayor Bradley also welcomes the extra time to prepare for retail sales, but he predicts on October 17 the online site will crash.
The government also said it will provide $40-million to municipalities over two years, to help with associated costs including enforcement.
Bradley says whether that's enough money is debatable, and he questions whether a two-year cap is appropriate.