If you were hoping for cannabis stores to come to Caledon you’re out of luck.
Council has again decided not to opt into the provincial cannabis program. The town asked staff to review its position on allowing weed shops this fall after hearing from nearby store owners who expressed interest in operating in the community.
Other than deciding to permit or prohibit retail sales, municipalities have a small role to play in regulating cannabis in Ontario and have little say in where stores can be located. Cannabis shops can set up anywhere retail is permitted to go but need to be a minimum 150 metres away from public and private schools.
Councillor Doug Maskell was the lone elected official to vote in favour.
“This is a business unlike others. We don’t worry about having five bars in a row. It’s basic economics. Some businesses will open and there could be a gold rush at first but once the market is saturated, it will balance out.”
Cannabis has been legal in Canada since 2018, but there are approximately 60 municipalities across Ontario that have opted out of allowing sales. There are 1,780 stores permitted in Ontario, the closest to Caledon being three in Erin, five in Tottenham, and eight in Orangeville.
The town surveyed residents about the issue and found that 41 per cent were in favour of allowing pot shops, 56 per cent were opposed and three per cent were undecided.
The results weren’t dramatically different from the town’s 2019 survey which found 53 per cent supported the retail shops, 44 per cent opposed and three per cent were undecided.
The federal government legalized recreational cannabis in 2018. In 2019 the Town of Caledon opted out of cannabis retail stores.
