A Chatham Councillor is looking for staff to answer some of his questions about the pending legalization of marijuana across Canada and how it will impact Chatham-Kent.
Doug Sulman is set to present a notice of motion on Monday, May 14 at the combined planning and regular council meeting at the Civic Centre.
“In light of the impending legalization of marijuana, I move that staff prepare a report on its plan to handle the coming legalization of marijuana,” Sulman says.
The topics he is looking for answers for, include:
– Enforcement: on public consumption and impaired driving
– Public Health and education
– Business Licensing, if there are consumption lounges
– Odour mediation and control, between neighbours and in Chatham-Kent’s social housing
– Land use planning: sales, production and consumption
– Employer/employee relations: Code of Conduct, medical use, while at work, etc.
– Recreation areas, which are smoke free
In April of 2017, the Federal government introduced legislation that would legalize, regulate, and restrict access to marijuana across the country.
Government officials say the current approach to cannabis does not work and has allowed criminals and organized crime to profit, while failing to keep cannabis out of the hands of Canadian youth.
“As a former police officer, I know firsthand how easy it is for our kids to buy cannabis,” stated Bill Blair, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Justice, in a media release last spring.
“In many cases, it is easier for our children to get cannabis than it is to get cigarettes. Today’s plan to legalize, strictly regulate and restrict access to cannabis will put an end to this. It will keep cannabis out of the hands of children and youth, and stop criminals from profiting from it.”
The proposed Cannabis Act would create a strict legal framework for controlling the production, distribution, sale and possession of cannabis in Canada, government officials stated.
Cannabis retail store coming to Chatham-Kent
Municipal officials say Chatham-Kent will be home to at least one provincially-operated cannabis retail store by July.
The municipality received the news back in December from the provincial Finance Ministry which is seeking a partnership between the newly formed Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation and hosting communities, Municipal officials said in a press release.
“We look forward to meeting with provincial officials to ensure that any store located in Chatham-Kent is done so only after the municipality has had direct input on its location,” stated Mayor Randy Hope, in a press release.
“It’s important that we ensure our local zoning bylaws are respected and that the wishes of the community play a role in where any stores will be placed.”
Mayor Hope added it is still his belief that the municipality deserves some compensation through a percentage of sales or some other method to ensure that it can meet any issues that arise.
“If there are social issues that arise from the legalization of marijuana and government retail stores, it shouldn’t be the municipality’s responsibility to bear the costs while the federal and provincial governments rake in the profits,” he said.
In April 2017, the Government of Canada introduced legislation to legalize cannabis across Canada.
In response, the Government of Ontario introduced the provincial Cannabis Act that would support the transition to legalized cannabis in Ontario, and the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation Act, that would establish the Ontario Cannabis Retail Corporation (OCRC) as a subsidiary corporation under the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) to retail cannabis, municipal officials say.
Under the proposed approach, the retail and distribution system would include an online province-wide sales channel by July 2018 and up to 150 stand-alone stores in 2020, starting with 40 by July 2018 and rising to 80 within the first year.
This proposed retail system would sell cannabis and cannabis-related items only, not alcohol.
“In many cases, it is easier for our children to get cannabis than it is to get cigarettes. Today’s plan to legalize, strictly regulate and restrict access to cannabis will put an end to this. It will keep cannabis out of the hands of children and youth, and stop criminals from profiting from it.”