Pot store site to be known soon
Local doctors are worried about marijuana addiction once it becomes legal July 1, city council told
The exact location of a new marijuana store will be selected by the provincial government sometime in February, the city solicitor told councillors Monday night.
Patricia Lester told city councillors at meeting that staff has insisted a government-run pot shop not be located near a school, homeless shelter or food bank.
Although the province can locate its stores wherever it wants, Lester said the concerns of cities such as Peterborough are being heeded: the government has vowed not to put its shops next to schools or shelters.
“They’re listening to municipalities,” Lester said.
Peterborough is getting a new marijuana store by July 1, one of the first 40 stores in the province.
On Monday, councillors heard from Lester as well as from city police Deputy Chief Tim Farquharson and medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra about how the impending legalization of marijuana will likely affect Peterborough.
Coun. Keith Riel asked Farquhar son about how roadside sobriety tests will be carried out to measure for marijuana use.
Farquharson said it’s costly to do this testing: it’s $40 every time police take a sample for marijuana use versus pennies to test for alcohol intoxication.
Coun. Dan McWilliams asked Salvaterra whether she’s heard any public outcry over the potential for increased cannabis addiction, once marijuana is legalized.
Salvaterra said she’s heard from several family doctors and pediatricians who are concerned that young people will become hooked, but there’s been no outcry.
“There are concerns - but it hasn’t been a large volume,” she said.
When weed is legalized on July 1, people will be allowed to possess up to 30 grams of dried marijuana and will also be allowed to grow up to four marijuana plants per household. Yet Coun. Lesley Parnell said there are many “unknowns”, regarding the legalization of cannabis.
For example, she pointed out that traces of marijuana can sometimes be detected in the body for weeks after smoking – and for police, that will complicate roadside sobriety testing.
There will likely be other issues cropping up after the law is changed. Parnell said public awareness is going to be crucial. “I think we can all agree that education is going to be a huge part of this - there are so many unknowns,” she said.