A staff report is recommending that local politicians give the green light to retail pot shops in Newmarket.
The 29-page report, which Council is to discuss at a special committee of the whole meeting Monday night, lays out a strong argument for opting in to Ontario’s bricks-and-mortar prong of the sale of recreational cannabis, which was legalized last October.
Since then, pot consumers have been able to purchase the product online at the provincial government-run Ontario Cannabis Store or grow up to four plants at home for their own use.
“Based on an analysis of potential negative and positive effects of recreational cannabis retail stores, staff conclude that allowing cannabis retail stores better serves the public policy goals of promoting public health, supporting economic development, and reducing profits to criminal enterprise. Staff recommends that the Town ‘opt in’ and notify the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario that the Town is willing to host recreational cannabis retail stores,” the report states.
Why 'opting in' for retail cannabis is recommended:
- Reducing profits to the illicit cannabis market: Ensuring convenient access to legal recreational cannabis through retail stores is one important aspect of reducing profits to the illicit (“black”) cannabis market.
- Economic development and branding opportunities: Cannabis is a large industry, with Canadians spending $5.5 billion on cannabis in 2017. With a Newmarket population of legal age to consume cannabis of approximately 63,000, annual per-capita cannabis consumption in Ontario of 21 grams, and an average Ontario price for cannabis of $7.43 per gram, Newmarket residents are estimated to spend nearly $10 million per year on cannabis. Similarly it may be worth considering how this decision aligns with the Town’s efforts at branding itself as a progressive, innovative, urban municipality.
- Public health benefits of access to a regulated and legal product: Cannabis that is acquired from the illicit market may pose additional risks to the health of residents. Cannabis from the illicit market is not subject to the stringent federal regulation and oversight of the legal market. As such, cannabis from the illicit market may have uncertain THC levels and additives that can expose residents to substances of undesired or unknown potency. Cannabis from the illicit market is also not subject to the inspection and testing systems of the federal licensed producer regime. As such, cannabis from the illicit market can be of uncertain origin and handling practices and may expose residents to other substances or health risks.
Newmarket resident Patsy Hawke, whose own informal Facebook poll on allowing pot shops in town has so far garnered 604 votes, with 77 per cent in favour, said she would like to see the town move ahead with the times.
The active local volunteer and part-time Scentsy consultant plans to attend Monday night’s meeting and hopes to share the results of her poll with councillors.
“It’s legal, so let’s get with the program and move forward,” Hawke said, who uses medical marijuana for health issues. “The main reason I support retail pot shops is the economic benefits for the town. There will be financial gain for whatever cities and towns get the stores.”
Hawke said that if Newmarket opts out of hosting pot shops and she has to travel to another municipality to shop at a legal store, she will likely do the rest of her shopping there, too.
“From a financial point of view for the town, I think it would be crazy not to take advantage of the economic opportunities,” she said.
Not everyone is convinced.
Comments received at the Dec. 12 public open house on the subject showed 78 per cent of attendees oppose retail pot shops, while 22 per cent were in favour. That feedback was solicited through anonymous comments written on sticky notes and affixed to a board outside council chambers.
A Town of Newmarket online survey showed a wide divide: Of 2,524 submissions, 50 per cent strongly opposed and 40 per cent strongly supported cannabis stores.
“The responses were highly polarized, which may indicate strongly divided public opinion or that supporters of each position attempted to flood the survey with like-minded responses to skew the response data,” the staff report suggests.
A subsequent telephone survey of 320 Newmarket residents found 47 per cent of respondents opposed to retail pot shops to some degree and 40 per cent in favour, at least in part.
The report acknowledges the polling results are not scientific.
Other concerns raised by residents include impact on property values, crime and disruptive behaviour, and youth access to cannabis.
You can read the full agenda here for the meeting scheduled for Monday, Jan. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Offices council chambers, 395 Mulock Dr. The community is welcome to attend. Town council will still have to ratify its decision at a special council meeting scheduled for Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. in council chambers.
Residents wishing to speak at the meeting are encouraged to complete a deputation form before 12 p.m. on Jan. 7 and submit it via email to [email protected]. Interest groups are encouraged to select one individual to speak on behalf of the group.
As of Jan. 4, 47 municipalities have opted in and 22 have opted out, of Ontario's 415 municipalities. The deadline to make a decision is Jan. 22. Visit the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario website for daily updates.
Check back here Tuesday for more on this story.
