As the newly-elected city council gears up to make a decision, the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce is asking its members to weigh in on the legal marijuana industry.
“The Government of Ontario has announced that it will implement a private-sector and license-based model for retail stores, with regulations expected to be in place by April 1, 2019,” the survey says. “Under the province's regulations, municipalities have a one-time option of opting out of allowing retail cannabis stores within their jurisdictions. This opt out has to be submitted by Jan. 22, 2019.”
Provincial regulations for cannabis sales include:
- Retailers will not be permitted to allow anyone under the age of 19 to enter their stores;
- Specific instances in which applicants will be denied a license, including cannabis-related criminal offences;
- A prohibition on the issuance of a license to any individual or organization who has an association with organized crime;
- A requirement the applicant show their tax compliance status to show they are in good standing with the government; and
- Store hours are restricted to 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
With city council also conducting a survey to get public opinion, the chamber decided to ask its members, as well.
“We are asking you to take a few minutes to provide us with feedback on this issue,” the survey says. “It is important that the voice of business is heard and council is aware of it when they make their decision.”
The survey asks members such thing as what effect it will have on their business, whether the city should have stores or stick to online sales, and whether they think the city will benefit economically from the marijuana business.
The deadline for the chamber survey is Nov. 30; the city's survey will be active until Dec. 28.
