Hamilton, like other municipalities in Ontario, will have no control over where cannabis dispensaries can set up shop come spring.

But the "big question mark" is how the province plans to steer cannabis outlets, says Ken Leendertse, the city's licensing and bylaw director.

The Ontario government has noted its intention to impose buffer zones between schools and pot shops when they become legal April 1. "But we don't know what that radial separation will be," Leendertse told members of the city's BIAs on Tuesday.

In February, the city capped the number of payday loan outlets in Hamilton by passing a radial separation bylaw. As of Jan. 1, the previous Liberal government had allowed municipalities to craft their own restrictions.

It would be "nice," Leendertse said Tuesday, if the province mandated minimum separation requirements between pot dispensaries to avoid clustering.

Other details such as hours of business are still unknown as his department prepares to inform the new council about the legal landscape.

"It's kind of putting the cart before the horse. We're hoping to make a valid, learned decision without all the information."

Staff plan to present a report to the planning committee Dec. 11 on the one-time chance Premier Doug Ford's government has offered municipalities to "opt out" of legal dispensaries within their borders.

Councils will have until Jan. 22 to decide if they want to ban dispensaries. Some, like Markham, have already decided to do so.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of the Attorney General said in an email Tuesday the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario's regulations will take effect in time for it to accept retail applications in December.

Brian Gray didn't offer details but said the model is based on "Ontario's experience and lessons learned from other sectors" on market consolidation.

"The tightly regulated private retail system provides an opportunity for small and medium-sized businesses to compete in this legal retail space, which we believe is the best way to drive out the illegal market."

The model, Gray added, is also designed to encourage competition and innovation as well as prevent price-fixing and monopolization.

Recreational marijuana became legal across the country Oct. 17, but in Ontario only online sales through the province's cannabis retailer will be allowed for now.

In Hamilton, as many as 80 pot shops were operating outside the law at one point, but roughly 30 shut down on Oct. 17 with the hope of landing a licence to operate legally in April. Storefront vendors will have to be licensed by the province, but there will be no cap on the number of outlets.

Leendertse was at Tuesday's BIA subcommittee meeting to ask for feedback on opting out. He said he's received a range of opinions on legal dispensaries, including support from the chamber of commerce.

"It's a legitimate business now. It's good for the economy," he said. "I think the hesitation is, what are the regulations?"

Rachel Braithwaite, executive director of Barton Village BIA, said she's disappointed cities don't have a say in where dispensaries can open.

Braithwaite said some pot shops on Barton gave her the cold shoulder when she knocked on their doors to introduce herself. Others were receptive, put effort into their signage, improved their facades and participated in neighbourhood festivities.

"There's some that work. There's some that don't work."

Leendertse said the Ford government plans to post notices about pot shop applicants and implement a 15-day consultation period before the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario decides on licences.

This will allow the city to gather input from its various departments but it's not enough time for public consultation, he said.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

tmoro@thespec.com

905-526-3264 | @TeviahMoro

- Ontario mandating 150-metre buffer zone between pot shops and schools

Read more about: