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Council needs more time to figure out where people want cannabis storefronts to be located if the city allows pot retailers to open in Ottawa, one veteran councillor says.

West Carleton-March Coun. Eli El-Chantiry cautioned against rushing a decision on whether to opt out of cannabis stores, even though the province has set a deadline of Jan, 22, 2019 for municipal councils to opt out.

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El-Chantiry said the city should take more time to assess residents’ sentiments about retail cannabis.

“Every community feels different,” El-Chantiry said, noting that the cannabis legalization didn’t create a huge buzz during the municipal election campaign.

“People need a little more time,” he said. “It’s more than yes or no. Where are the retail stores going to be?”

El-Chantiry has more important matters to worry about in the immediate term than gauging residents’ positions on pot. The Dunrobin community he represents is trying to rebuild after a tornado ripped through the area on Sept. 21.