Mayoral candidate Dan Melanson is asking residents for their input into whether Sudbury should allow a retail cannabis store, or restrict sales to online only.
“On Oct. 17, Canada will legalize cannabis for adult recreational use, ending 95 years of prohibition at the federal and provincial levels,” Melanson writes.
“By April 1, 2019, the province will introduce a licensed and heavily regulated private network of storefront cannabis retailers under the jurisdiction of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
“As part of his province-wide cannabis consultations, Premier (Doug) Ford is asking each municipality to decide whether or not they would agree to having cannabis retailers within their boundaries by next April. Each of Ontario’s 444 municipalities must let the province know their decision to opt in or opt out of the retail network by Jan. 22, 2019.”
Melanson is inviting residents to take part in an online poll to get a gauge of what Sudburians think city council should decide.
“Personally, I am not a cannabis user, but I certainly respect the right of adults to have their choice within the new legal framework,” he writes. “Given that there will only be two meetings of the new council before this decision on cannabis retail must be made, I believe that this important subject should not be rushed.
“The cannabis retail topic needs to be brought to the people of Greater Sudbury right now to allow citizens to express their views and also to let our future council know where our citizens stand on cannabis retail in our community.”
To take part in the survey, go to www.danmelanson.ca.
Full text of Melanson news release:
Should Greater Sudbury Opt In or Opt Out to Allow Cannabis Retail Stores?
On Oct. 17, Canada will legalize cannabis for adult recreational use, ending 95 years of prohibition at the federal and provincial levels.
With the upcoming legalization, the federal government will oversee a network of licensed growers that will ensure a safe supply of cannabis products.
Provincial and territorial crown corporations will purchase cannabis products from the licensed growers and control all online sales while overseeing cannabis retail storefront sales in their jurisdictions through a public or hybrid network of public/private retailers.
In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford has announced that on Oct. 17, all online sales in Ontario will be handled by the Ontario Cannabis Store. By April 1, 2019, the province will introduce a licensed and heavily regulated private network of storefront cannabis retailers under the jurisdiction of The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
As part of his province-wide cannabis consultations, Premier Ford is asking each municipality to decide whether or not they would agree to having cannabis retailers within their boundaries by next April. Each of Ontario’s 444 municipalities must let the province know their decision to opt in or opt out of the retail network by Jan. 22, 2019.
This is an important decision for Greater Sudbury that should be brought to the public for input. I’m inviting voters to participate in an online poll to gauge public sentiment towards having a privately owned and provincially regulated cannabis retail option in Greater Sudbury.
Personally, I am not a cannabis user, but I certainly respect the right of adults to have their choice within the new legal framework. Currently in Greater Sudbury there are over 36,000* adult age cannabis users, and this number will increase to over 50,000* once legalization is implemented.
Given that there will only be two meetings of the new council before this decision on cannabis retail must be made, I believe that this important subject should not be rushed. The cannabis retail topic needs to be brought to the people of Greater Sudbury right now to allow citizens to express their views and also to let our future council know where our citizens stand on cannabis retail in our community.
North Bay has already voted to allow regulated, private cannabis retail stores in their community and we need to start the public input process now. I would like to invite all voters to visit my website and take part in the poll to help our incoming council decide on Greater Sudbury’s cannabis retail plan moving forward instead of rushing to make a decision without community input.
To have your say and cast your vote on private cannabis retail in the City of Greater Sudbury, please visit www.danmelanson.ca. If you have any questions about Greater Sudbury’s private cannabis plan, please call me at 705-521-3536.
*The Canadian Cannabis Report. A national market study on cannabis produced by Oraclepoll Research.
Dan Melanson
[email protected]
705-521-3536
