The path for cannabis sales is unclear.
That is the feeling from a couple of area municipalities MyMuskokaNow.com spoke to about the upcoming legalization of marijuana.
The news that individual towns and cities could decide on whether or not to participate in having legal businesses sell weed has served to make the question even murkier.
Scott Lucas, Director of Development Services for the Town of Gravenhurst, says they have been trying to keep council up to date on all the latest information.
“With the rules changing quite significantly, we are again going back to the drawing board to assess what our legislative authority is,” he offered.
Selling of marijuana is going to begin with online sales and by next year licensed retailers will be able to sell it to anyone 19 years of age or older. But the model of who controls these retailers appears to give the control to the individual towns. Lucas says he is not surprised there is a lot of objection, he is surprised there has not been more public conversation with local government officials.
“I am a bit surprised there isn’t more community discussion around the topic generally,” said Lucas.
In Bracebridge, Chief Administrative Officer Scott Sisson agrees that council seems to be taking the changes in stride and there does not appear to be a lot of public sentiment one way or the other about allowing retail sales of marijuana in the town.
“We currently have nothing much to present to council,” admits Sisson in reference to guidance from the province. He does concede that some by-law framework such as business licensing could control any inclusion of retail cannabis sales, but no decisions have been made about that at this time.