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Kitchener and Waterloo residents may soon be able to purchase marijuana legally at a storefront within the area.

Kitchener and Waterloo councils both voted Monday to opt into the province’s plan for storefronts within the cities’ borders.

READ MORE: Staff report recommends Kitchener opt in on hosting cannabis shops

Both Waterloo and Kitchener councils were unanimous in their decision.

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The cities had until Jan. 22 to make a call as to whether it would opt in or out of the province’s plan.

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In a report, city of Kitchener staff had advised council to opt in for financial and safety reasons. City of Waterloo staff also urged its council to make a similar decision.

However, just because the cities have chosen to opt into the program, that does not mean that a store will be located within their boundaries.

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The Ontario government announced in December that it would allow 25 stores to open within the province in December with seven of those being located in a west region which stretches from Georgian Bay to Windsor and also includes several other large cities including Hamilton and London.

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Last week, a draw was held for licences and seven people/companies were handed the opportunity to open a store in the West Region. None of the seven has given any indication as to where they will open the stores.

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Cambridge council will hold their vote on Tuesday. City staff have also recommended that it opts into the provincial government’s plan.