The City of Welland is the latest municipality in Niagara to roll up a final decision on whether cannabis stores should be allowed in its community.

At Tuesday's regular council meeting, nine members of council voted in favour of opting in and three voiced concerns that this isn't the direction the local government should be taking.

After a lengthy debate at last week's committee meeting, council returned to the chambers on Tuesday night for a final vote and more discussion about the issue facing municipalities across Niagara and Ontario.

Ward 2 Coun. Leo Van Vliet said cannabis is the new "law of the land" and that it's in local residents' DNA as a result of federal legalization.

He said an argument that users should stick to buying it legally online is one he can't get behind.

"It's the same as when I go home and want a beer — I want it now," he said.

"I don't want to have to order it and wait 10 days for it," he added, also saying he supports the decision to opt in because it provides people assurance that they will be safe after their purchases.

"Anybody that does want to try it, they'll be able to buy it in a place at least they know they are getting a quality product," he said.

Couns. Bonnie Fokkens (Ward 6), Claudette Richard (Ward 5) and Tony Dimarco (Ward 4) were all in opposition of giving a green thumbs up.

Richard said a lack of public input and uncertainties on how cannabis retail stores will work throughout the province are very much on her mind.

She said waiting to see what types of issues other Niagara towns and cities have until making a decision should be the best route.

"I'm choosing to stand still," she said.

Fokkens had the same mindset, saying the province doesn't have a "well-thought-out-plan" with retail cannabis, and that there are too many "what ifs" connected to the issue.

"I'd like to wait and see how this plays out," said Fokkens.

DiMarco said the city could be packing its pipe too full by opting in so early.

"Once you opt in, you're in. You can't get out," he said, also raising concerns about costs related to public safety if a store sets up in Welland.

Ward 3 Coun. John Chiocchio said Welland isn't the only local government scrambling to make a decision before the province's Jan. 22 deadline, before he voted in favour of opting in.

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"Even though we've all been rushed, I think we've handled it pretty good as a city," said Chiocchio, saying people need to adapt to cannabis being legal as a new reality.

"We didn't like it when we had to wear seatbelts, we didn't like it when a lot of things came into existence," he said.

Ward 1 Coun. Adam Moote also said the city needs to adapt to legalization.

"To not opt in would be a reflection that Welland is not ready to embrace the future," he said.

Ward 3 Coun. Lucas Spinosa said he sympathizes with people who are against a pot store, including a husband and wife who made delegations earlier in Tuesday's meeting.

He also said public safety is his number one concern, and that a controlled environment to purchase cannabis will have a positive impact — especially with the black market appearing to remain alive and well.

"I can tell you, as a young person, as a musician, cannabis is everywhere and it's very, very easy to get," said Spinosa.

The provincial government drew 25 applicants in a recent lottery, giving them permission to take the next steps in opening a store.

The first 25 stores will only be opened in communities with populations of 50,000 or more.

Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, St. Catharines and Port Colborne councils have also chosen to opt in.