File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / mrorange002)
File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / mrorange002)
Chatham

No municipal restrictions on pot shop locations in CK, yet

Chatham-Kent may get more control over where retail cannabis stores go in the municipality, but not to the extent some councillors are hoping for.

In October 2018, Chatham-Kent opted into allowing recreational cannabis stores within the municipality. However, Councillor Doug Sulman put forward a motion this week requesting that the municipality ask the province of Ontario for more control over where cannabis storefronts are placed in Chatham-Kent. Specifically, he was requesting that no retail cannabis stores be located 500 metres from schools, recreational centres community centres, parks, and libraries. Currently, municipalities that opted in have no control over licensing for retail stores and minimal input when it comes to store locations.

While many councillors were in favour of asking the province for more control over store locations, the 500-metre request was met with a fair amount of opposition. Many worried a 500-metre distance would be overly limiting and make it near impossible for people to open up shops in the municipality.

Councillor Aaron Hall said he took out a map and measured the distance of schools, parks, and libraries in the ward he represents. According to Hall, the restriction would hinder the ability for smaller communities in Chatham-Kent to get a retail store.

"I heard some concerns from the community, from some people in Wallaceburg, who had some concerns about that being too constrictive," said Hall. "It basically restricts the whole downtown core of Wallaceburg from being able to have one of these retail marijuana stores."

Councillor Melissa Harrigan echoed those statements.

According to Harrigan, through conversations with residents in West Kent, she's also heard concerns regarding a 500-metre limit, Mainly from people who are interested in opening their own cannabis stores.

Councillor Michael Bondy was one of the few who was in support of putting stricter restrictions on the location of storefronts. Although he does agree the 500 metres may be too extreme, he said he believes there absolutely has to be some kind of restraints in place.

"The way the law stands now, people can consume cannabis immediately walking out of a store. Unlike a beer store or a liquor store where you can't open a beer and walk down the street, apparently, you can smoke a joint as soon as you leave the cannabis store," said Bondy. "That's why I think there should be a buffer zone."

Currently, according to the Ontario Cannabis Store website, as far as outdoor consumption goes, cannabis cannot be consumed at children's playgrounds, hospital grounds, publicly owned sporting areas, restaurant and bar patios, public areas within nine metres of a patio and within 20 metres of a school ground or community centre. Ontario's restrictions on the locations of pot shops are pretty lenient. One of the only regulations is that shops cannot be less than 150 metres from a school. Stores are allowed to be open to the public between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. on any day.

Although Bondy doesn't have any exact locations in mind of where he thinks would be prime spots for retail stores, he suggests they be modelled after liquor store locations, stand-alone and away from anywhere with heavy foot traffic.

"Let's just be appropriate with this, I think that's the point," Bondy said.

After push back on the 500-metre restriction, Sulman withdrew that part of his motion before council directed municipal staff to go ahead with requesting that the Ontario government give them more power to choose shop locations.

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