Ward 5 Coun. Marc Grant and Ward 1 Coun. Sean O’Meara said they are undecided at this time.

Ward 3 town Coun. Dave Gittings (acclaimed) could not be reached for comment.

Ward 1 Coun. Ralph Robinson is retiring at the end of the current term of council and will not take part in this vote.

The next council will also have two additional councillors for the newly formed Ward 7.

Burton said he was grateful to the new government for promising Oakville would have the opportunity to opt-out of having private cannabis stores.

“The government’s plan for mail order delivery means people who want it will get access to cannabis and people who don’t want multiple cannabis stores across town can be respected too, if we opt out,” said Burton.

Chisholm said more information is necessary before cannabis stores can be considered for Oakville.

“Our constituents are not even aware of it. We haven’t had the opportunity to engage in this so I am taking the position of opting out at this time until we have further details, until we have an opportunity as a council to vet this and come up with a better plan,” he said.

Duddeck voiced similar concerns, but noted that while she is leaning toward an opt-out vote she does not have enough information to give a firm commitment.

Hutchins said this is a matter council needs to take its time with.

“I too want to opt-out at the present time,” he said.

“I don’t think we’ve had enough information and it is important to get the information to make our decisions rather than just jumping.”

Elgar said at this time opting out is the best option.

He voiced concerns about the proximity of cannabis stores to local secondary and even elementary schools.

Knoll said he is opposed to the legalization of marijuana and is certain in his opt-out vote.

He said he was concerned about a cannabis store run through the LCBO being in the Oakville community and is substantially more worried about independent stores.

“We have a difficult enough time restricting the access of minors to cigarettes, beer, alcohol, etc., so how could we possibly do this in such a widespread manner and actually control access to the people to whom marijuana actually poses a significant health risk,” asked Knoll.

He also said he believes the argument that cannabis stores are needed to drive out black market marijuana is false.

“I don’t for a moment believe this legalization thing is going to result in the elimination of the black market. You are going to be in a situation where marijuana is going to be heavily taxed,” he said.

“The black market will still be there providing to those who want it, but don’t want to pay the tax part of it.”

Lishchyna said she is opting out for a number of reasons including because she fears the legalization of marijuana for adults 19 years of age and older gives a false perception to adolescents of the drug’s decreased harmful effects.

“The health community is well aware marijuana is not a benign substance for adolescents and young adults. It is not OK,” she said.

“It is well documented to be harmful in many aspects including a strong link to psychosis and schizophrenia, disrupted learning and memory loss leading to low academic achievement, impaired coordination and a shortened attention span.”

She also took issue with pot shops in other places where cannabis legalization has taken place selling things like THC-infused candies, chocolates, drinks and ice pops.

“This is a blatant attempt to target youth for addiction and dependence later in life,” said Lishchyna.

“Our community does not need that.”

Longo said that following discussions with his constituents he would put forward an opt-out vote if re-elected.

He also said the health impacts of marijuana require additional study.

O’Meara said that before he makes a decision he wants more information about the impact introducing retail cannabis stories would have on the black market and on the health and safety issues for those who get cannabis from a source that is not regulated.

He said council has yet to reach out to the local business community about this issue.

“I know there is a desire to make this into an election issue, but I think making this decision without having the information in terms of guns and gangs and violence and the black market and what those ramifications may be for the Halton Region- I would want to know that first,” said O’Meara.

“I also need to reach out to my community and get their thoughts on it.”

Grant said he wants to know more about the wording of the opt-out option noting there could be some kind of poison pill in there.

Mayoral candidate John McLaughlin said there are more important issues facing the voting public than whether Oakville will get cannabis retail stores.

“I’m more concerned about taxes, roads, congestion, senior poverty, infrastructure, debt. All of those municipal concerns are of paramount importance,” he said.

“My phone lit up yesterday and residents were saying, ‘Council cares about taking pictures about pot, but they don’t care about my tax bill, which is exploding, they don’t care about the roads. What about the congestion? What about all the green space gobbled up? What about Glen Abbey?’ They went through their laundry list of real problems and said council seems to be avoiding that and doing photo ops.”

He said most residents he has talked with have said marijuana is not their No. 1 concern.

McLaughlin said ultimately the opt-out option doesn’t matter because the province will be introducing online sales.

Mayoral candidate Julia Hanna argued that by exercising the opt-out option, Burton is doing the popular thing, but not the right thing.

“Banning dispensaries empowers drug dealers in Oakville. Addiction experts tell me the worst thing Oakville can do is ban dispensaries in our town. It drives sales underground. Oakville will become a magnet for gangs and drug dealers who lace cannabis with fentanyl and sell the harder drugs that are killing our kids,” said Hanna.

“Ignoring the problem doesn’t make it go away. Emergency room visits and deaths are increasing in our community and I don’t want to read one more obituary of a young person’s death. Oakville needs a comprehensive drug/harm reduction strategy.”

Hanna said as mayor she would strictly control and limit cannabis sales away from schools and all youth and resident areas.

She said sales would ideally be limited to government-controlled locations like the new police services building.

Hanna said she would like to use proceeds from these sales to fund a comprehensive drug treatment and prevention strategy in Oakville.