Most municipalities in Waterloo Region have voted to opt-in when it comes to allowing retail cannabis stores

Retail pot shops may be coming to Waterloo Region very soon.

Council members in Kitchener, Waterloo, Wilmot and Wellesley Township have all voted to opt into allowing retail pot shops within their municipalities.

The city of Cambridge will be making a final decision on whether to opt in or out on Tuesday.

Police Chief Bryan Larkin says the Waterloo Regional Police Service fully supports the council's decision to approve retail cannabis stores in their city.

"By opting out, you have no control. Illegal dispensaries will be able to pop up and be subject to more reinforcements. The reality is that, from a policing perspective, we prioritize our investigations and of course, our focus right now is on much larger issues right across our region."

Chief Larkin advised Kitchener council members on Monday that opting out would not have reduced the number of pot users in our cities.

"The reality is that we know that there is a significant amount of use in illicit cannabis. There's nothing preventing anybody now. We've been really limited. The cannabis act has really created limited demand on policing, with the exception of road safety."

He says opting in will also help ensure more pot users will have access to clean, untainted cannabis products.