If City Council does not pass a resolution to opt out by Jan. 22, 2019, they are automatically deemed to have opted in and this decision is final.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario will be responsible for issuing a licence to operate a cannabis retail store, a licence for a location of a storefront, as well as a licence to manage a cannabis retail store.

The province has identified a buffer-zone of, at minimum, 150 metres between a cannabis retail store and a school.

The municipality will not be able to pass by-laws to create restrictions specific to cannabis retail stores, it cannot limit the number of cannabis stores in Thunder Bay, and it cannot create separate business licensing regulations for cannabis retail stores.

The province will post a notice to the public on the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) website and place a notice on the proposed cannabis store location for 15 days. During that time, the municipality and residents will be able to provide a written submission to the AGCO about any concerns they have with the retail location. The AGCO may refuse to authorize the store if it is in the public interest to do so. The following are the areas of “public interest” the AGCO can consider, as defined by the regulations:

- Public health and safety;

- Protecting youth and restricting their access to cannabis; and,

- Preventing illegal activities in relation to cannabis.

- Public health and safety; - Protecting youth and restricting their access to cannabis; and, - Preventing illegal activities in relation to cannabis. If City Council opts in by Jan. 22, 2019, they will be eligible for a second installment of funds in March 2019 expected to be at least $129,922. The municipality will only be able to use these funds for costs related to the transition of legalization (i.e., enforcement, emergency services, etc.).

If the province’s portion of federal excise taxes on recreational cannabis exceeds $100 million, the province will provide 50% of the surplus to municipalities who did not opt out as of Jan. 22, 2019.