Some Hamilton councillors sour on legal pot shops
Some city politicians now say they’ll vote against legal marijuana stores in Hamilton because new provincial regulations “ignore” municipal concerns.
The Progressive Conservative government has released new regulations intended to control how and where legal pot dispensaries can set up shop come April 1, 2019. Individual councils must vote to allow or ban such outlets from their communities by Jan. 22.
Controversially, the new rules impose a 150-metre buffer zone around schools where legal dispensaries will not be allowed to set up shop. That is half the distance requested by some cities, including Hamilton — and a third of the 450-metre exclusion zone envisioned by the previous Liberal government.
The rules also appear to quash any hope of municipal licensing of outlets, or a requested limit on the “concentration” of pot shops in any one area, said city planning head Jason Thorne, who provided a brief update to councillors Thursday.
“It’s pretty clear, at the local level, there is going to be little to no regulatory authority,” he said.
A report will go to the new council in December in advance of a vote to allow or ban legal pot stores in the city. While most cities are expected to allow the legal outlets, politicians in Markham, Oakville and Richmond Hill have previously suggested they would support “opting out.”
At least four Hamilton councillors now say they’ll vote against allowing the stores, including Chad Collins in Ward 5, Tom Jackson in Ward 6, Arlene VanderBeek in Ward 13, and Esther Pauls, the councillor-elect for Ward 7.
Collins noted the city asked in vain for a buffer zone not just around schools, but also “sensitive use” areas such as daycares and parks. “It seems like they (provincial officials) have largely ignored our concerns.”
Jackson said he is “appalled” by the 150-metre buffer zone and worried about the “unknowns” associated with legalization and enforcement. VanderBeek said she will oppose the stores until the regulations are “clearer and more restrictive.”
Pauls said she will vote to opt out, at least for now. (Cities have the option of saying no now but joining the legal market later.) “I think we need more information before jumping in,” she said.
Collins added he was disappointed cities cannot insist on business licences for pot shops, depriving the city of an “enforcement tool” for bad operators. “Certainly it seems like no one is in a hurry to enforce on the existing (illegal) dispensaries.”
Mayor Fred Eisenberger has stated he supports allowing legal marijuana dispensaries, but he has also stressed the city should push for local control. He could not be reached on Thursday.
Other councillors expressed concern, but want more information. Coun. Sam Merulla criticized the provincial approach as “hasty” but added he needs to learn more about what funding or shared revenue the city might lose by opting out.
The province has promised $40 million over two years to help cities deal with the fallout of legalization.
Coun. Lloyd Ferguson said the legal store plan “doesn’t seem as appealing as it once did,” but added he’ll wait to learn more before making a decision.