By Cecilia Nasmith
The proliferation of cannabis stores in close proximity to each other has concerned a number of Cobourg residents, several councillors reported at this week's meeting.
Municipal Clerk Brent Larmer referred to it as the “stacking” of cannabis stores, and the matter arose as a result from correspondence from Cobourg resident Ron Smith. The same concern is being investigated by Toronto's municipal council, and Smith urged Cobourg council to follow suit.
Given how these stores are regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, Larmer said, it's unlikely much can be done – not since Ontario municipalities (Cobourg included) were made to vote either to opt in or opt out of cannabis retailing by the provincial government several years ago. It was made clear at the time that municipalities had no right of input or veto on any location where cannabis stores might pop up, with the AGCO being the arbiter.
“This was essentially the first decision we made as a council, whether to opt into the provincial system of regulation,” Councillor Emily Chorley recalled.
“This is one of the reasons I voted against supporting it. Municipalities simply do not have enough say on the location or concentration of cannabis retail outlets. From what I understand, we don't even receive any notification from the AGCO when they receive an application for a retail license.”
That is true, Larmer said, but these applications are posted on the AGCO website and online comment and suggestions are taken. It is his understanding that monitoring these posts is what the Toronto committee is doing. But this is the only kind of input a municipality can hope for.
While Councillor Nicole Beatty expressed her wish for a committee that might investigate the phenomenon and do something about it, Larmer's information led her instead to ask for a staff report on the matter to be brought back to council in April.
If anything, Larmer said, it will be an opportunity to get information on the process out so concerned citizens will know how this happened.
