(© Can Stock Photo / cendeced)(© Can Stock Photo / cendeced)
Midwestern

North Huron says 'no thanks' to cannabis stores

The Township of North Huron has opted out of hosting cannabis retail stores.

Despite agreeing in principle to opt in two weeks ago, council voted 4-3 to opt out during Monday's regular council meeting.

Deputy Reeve Trevor Seip changed his vote to give the "no" group the advantage. He was joined by Paul Heffer, Ric McBurney and Chris Palmer in voting to opt out.

Seip said the reason he changed his vote from two weeks is ago is because of his concerns regarding how it may impact the municipality.

"You have a potential increase in revenue from the taxation and sale of cannabis, however, there's a social responsibility to that effect, and there's also costs associated to having those types of businesses available to your residents," he said.

Seip said he wants to watch how nearby municipalities who have opted in deal with the issue, as North Huron weighs the possibility of re-voting in the future.

North Huron becomes the 69th municipality in Ontario to opt-out of hosting marijuana storefronts, with 206 voting to opt-in as of Monday evening.

Councillor Palmer was the most vocal in his opposition to cannabis retail outlets in North Huron, calling it "playing with the devil".

Palmer called marijuana a gateway to harder drugs, saying it's "more socially acceptable saying no".

Reeve Bernie Bailey, who campaigned on how marijuana could potentially be a profitable venture for North Huron, said, "We are going to move forward with not having it. It was a good discussion, well thought out, and the majority prevailed."

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