No Legal Cannabis Outlets in Mississauga
Committee Votes Against Allows Legal Cannabis Outlets to Open – LPC
Members of the Mississauga council general committee upheld their decision of three years ago to not allow legal cannabis outlets. The committee voted 8-4 against. Canada’s sixth-largest city, which borders Toronto, currently has zero legal cannabis outlets.
Mayor Bonnie Crombie, who was vocally for opening up the city, expressed her disappointment in the decision. She said the decision goes against the will of the people. About 70 per cent of Mississauga residents are for legal cannabis outlets, she said.
“I support opting in because Mississauga is behind the times,” Mayor Crombie said. “There is no denying that our residents use cannabis and we must give them options to buy it.”
The vote was based findings in a report presented to city council. The report stated that allowing legal cannabis outlets would spur small business and bring in about $74 million in revenue. Further, it stated that Mississauga has an estimated 100-150 illegal mobile dispensaries, according to Peel Provinceal Police. The report did not address the fact that opening legal cannabis outlets would help disrupt the illegal cannabis market. This is something that’s been proven across Canada.
It’s a fact that Mayor Crombie underlined, too. “I support opting in now because we can opt in with confidence knowing that the sky hasn’t fallen in other municipalities. And it won’t here,” she said.
Interestingly, one of the main objections staff had was the fact that municipalities do not seem to have control over where cannabis stores could open. “A location has never been denied by the AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario) based on an objection presented by a municipality,” the report notes. It pointed to Hamilton as objecting to store locations 29 times, but losing every objection.
However, most if not all cities have by-laws in effect that control many aspects of cannabis store location, such as distance from a school, etc.
Mississauga Lack of Legal Cannabis Outlets a Case Study of What Not to Do – LPC
Cannabis stigma still runs deep in many Canadian cities, as the Mississauga experience shows. And, the fact that illegal cannabis runs rampant in the city is no surprise. Almost a year ago, legal cannabis sales in Canada surpassed illegal sales. That is not true in Mississauga.
City council still has to ratify the decision, so there is a chance it will be overturned. Legal cannabis outlets reduce crime, increase safety, and boost jobs and small business. It’s not too late for Mississauga city council to see that.
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