(Photo courtesy © Can Stock)(Photo courtesy © Can Stock)
Midwestern

Town of St. Marys to allow cannabis retail stores

Another local community is opting in to allow cannabis retail stores.

St. Marys Town Council voted Tuesday night, citing its economic benefits while noting its legality and similarity to other regulated items. The Stratford Police Service also supports the move.

Mayor Al Strathdee said cannabis is already available online and in nearby communities. He said they would lose out on additional funding if they opted out.

Municipalities across Ontario have until January 22 to inform the AGCO if they wish to opt in or opt out of retail cannabis sales.

Beyond the provincial funding, opting in also provides the Town of St. Marys with future economic development opportunities and new tax revenue streams due to the possibility of a new retail store.

The province has committed to providing $40 million over two years to help municipalities with the implementation costs of recreational cannabis legalization, with each municipality receiving at least $10,000 in total.

Furthermore, if the province collects more than $100 million in duty from cannabis sales over the first two years of legalization, it will provide 50 per cent of the surplus to municipalities that have opted in.

“The reality is that these stores are going to be open nearby – London and Perth South have opted in – so they might as well provide opportunities for us here as well,” Mayor Strathdee said.    “When I was a kid, they banned firecrackers in St. Marys.   They were still sold at a store in Rannoch, so we would just bike there and spend our money there. There is no reason to repeat the past in that sense.”

Stratford Police Service Chief Greg Skinner shared a similar point of view when briefing St. Marys Town Council.

“Not having retail stores in St. Marys will do little to limit the accessibility of cannabis. Mobility allows people who want cannabis to attend other municipalities to get it lawfully,” Chief Skinner said. “To date, we have not seen any significant issues with regard to cannabis legalization. Allowing retail stores and governing them to our community standards would be the preferred route.”

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