TORONTO

Councillor Jim Karygiannis fears Toronto will become the weed capital of Canada.

Given that the number of medical marijuana dispensaries in the city has grown to nearly 50, the Scarborough-Agincourt politician wants the city to be included in the development of regulations needed to govern legal pot.

He’ll call on the city’s municipal licensing and standards committee on Friday to demand a seat on the federal task force now hammering out a proposed framework for the sale and regulation of marijuana.

While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made it clear his government will legalize weed for recreational use, few details have been worked out.

“I’d like to see a set of rules,” Karygiannis said Monday. “We even regulated the vapour lounges. Capping the numbers is something to be looked upon. I think three or four in my ward would be adequate — not 50.”

Karygiannis put forward a motion that demands “Toronto’s interests are addressed,” including looking at appropriate locations for dispensaries. He wants to ensure weed is not sold close to schools or daycare centres.

“We need to do a study and make sure our folks are at the table,” he contended. “We don’t need Amsterdam-style coffee shops or recreational marijuana shops popping up in our neighbourhoods.”

Dispensaries as it stands are illegal, according to Toronto Police and Health Canada.

Councillor Joe Cressy, who heads the Toronto Drug Strategy, said he is waiting on a report from the chief medical officer of health on how the city should deal with marijuana dispensaries.

jenny.yuen@sunmedia.ca