Durham municipalities tapped for cannabis stores

Three Durham municipalities made the cut on the province’s most recent list of communities that will see a legal cannabis store in July 2018.

The province added 15 more communities to the list of municipalities that will have LCBO-run cannabis stores. That brings the total list to 29 communities.

The town of Ajax issued a statement in reaction to the announcement.

“The town is in the process of understanding the municipal considerations and impacts,” spokesperson Rachael Matheson said.

“Cannabis legislation is championed by the Government of Canada, and the retail cannabis program is provincially led. As such, the town has limited influence in decisionmaking. We will share more information when it becomes available.” Oshawa Mayor John Henry was scheduled to meet with the province on Wednesday for discussions about the legalization of marijuana.

He said the issue of selling cannabis is greater than just the location.

He said municipalities haven’t been given any tools to manage, for example, complaints from neighbours about drifting smoke.

“You can imagine a young family who chooses to go out to play soccer or baseball or be in the garden on a summer day is going to be subjected to smoke with no controls,” Henry said.

Henry helped move a motion for the creation of a regionwide bylaw on the issue and says regionwide rules can be enforced by police as opposed to local bylaw departments. The issue is currently under discussion between the region and lowertier municipalities such as Oshawa.

Whitby, Oakville and Burlington were also among new communities added to the list.