Ford’s marijuana plan forces the hands of local candidates

Bennett, Therrien haven’t said whether they’d vote to say ‘no’ to a local pot store

Peterborough city council has yet to take a substantive position on the pending introduction of retail marijuana within its boundaries. In spite of the fact that it has been more than two years since Canada’s former health minister told a special session of the UN General Assembly that Canada would introduce legislation in the spring of 2017 to legalize the use of marijuana, city council has followed a timid and reactive path that has been its default approach on this contentious issue.

Last year, the former Ontario Liberal government announced that it would create a government monopoly of up to 150 retail marijuana stores by 2020, including at least one store in Peterborough. Peterborough city council took no position on the announcement; nor did it propose any operational or location criteria for the Peterborough store.

Ten days ago, Ontario’s new Progressive Conservative government changed course, announcing that Peterborough would not have a government-run marijuana store. Instead, all retail sales in Ontario would take place online beginning on Oct. 17, in order to meet federal law, and private-sector marijuana stores would be free to set up shop beginning next April. In addition, the new government’s announcement contained this: “The government will provide municipalities with a one-time window under which they can choose to opt out of permitting physical cannabis retail stores within their boundaries.”

There were meetings held between municipalities and the province this week at the annual meeting of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario about this opting-out option and other marijuana matters, and that means that city councillors will once again have an opportunity to speak up – for the first time – on whether they want marijuana stores in the city or not.

By offering this opting-out option, the government of Premier Ford has created a timely, hot-button election issue that should affect every candidate for council and the mayoralty in this fall’s election. Voters will understandably want to know whether privately run marijuana stores are in Peterborough’s future. Support for opting out means the answer is no; opposition to opting out means the answer is yes.

Both mayoralty candidates Diane Therrien and Daryl Bennett have already waffled on the issue, refusing to state a clear position to an Examiner reporter. In citing a need for more information or consultation, they both continue to carry on this council’s practice of failing to take any principled position on the issue of retail marijuana stores.

While they might fear alienating some voters during an election campaign, courage, authenticity and forthrightness are highly valued and rewarded by voters these days.

Should Peterborough reject the opt-out option and accept new private sector marijuana stores in town? Of course it should. Buyers and sellers have an expectation of access to legal products without the barrier of government intervention. Stores can easily be regulated in terms of their size,

Voters should urge candidates to state their position on the matter ... After all, that’s what elections are for.

hours of operation, proximity to schools and the qualifications of their proprietors. The central purpose of the federal legislation is to combat the thriving black market and protect children.

Banning stores has the opposite effect. City councillors often speak enthusiastically about their support for small business and job creation; new stores would be consistent with that support.

As a competitive market develops, nearby municipalities with their own marijuana stores will attract the business that we reject.

Voters should urge candidates to state their position on the matter as the election season unfolds. That is, do they support the idea of regulated and well located private sector marijuana stores in Peterborough? After all, that’s what elections are for.