The City of Brampton said it received 19 cannabis-related resident calls in the first six weeks of legalized recreational cannabis, but only two were complaints.

According to city staff, the majority of cannabis-related calls to 3-1-1 between Oct. 17 and Dec. 5 were from residents asking where they could purchase the newly legalized product.

“We had 19 calls. Of those that were actual complaints — two. Ten of those calls were in relation to where is the retail store where I can buy it or what is the mechanism or process for when they’d be ready to sell,” then corporate services commissioner Joseph Pittari told council at its Dec. 5 committee of council meeting. He has since been installed as interim CAO.

He added four calls were general inquiries about cannabis and the remaining three were in relation to places of use.

Pittari provided the stats to Brampton’s recently sworn-in council as part of a report as council wrestles with the decision to opt in or out of allowing legal cannabis shops within city limits. The Ontario government has given all municipalities until Jan. 22 to decide.

Those municipalities opting in will receive cannabis tax revenue sharing from the province and feds, as well additional funding for policing, health and/or education shortfalls stemming from legal pot.

Brampton council has decided to defer the decision to a special meeting in the new year in order to give city staff more time for study and public engagement.

Neighbouring Mississauga decided to opt out of allowing private pot shops at its regular council meeting on Dec. 12.

“The reason council is struggling with it and has deferred is we’re being offered two poor options. You accept and you get 10 per cent coverage, and if you don’t accept you get nothing. It’s an unfair position to put municipalities in,” said Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown.

A phone poll by Environics commissioned by the city in November found 54 per cent of Bramptonians are in favour of allowing cannabis shops in Brampton. Forty per cent were against, while six per cent remained undecided.