Georgina lighting up to local cannabis shops

Town preparing cannabis policy statement to better control retail locations

Yorkregion.com
May 26, 2021
Amanda Persico

Georgina is lighting up to the idea of local pot shops.

After two years of watching other municipalities, Georgina council unanimously approved opting into the province’s licensed retail cannabis program.

Allowing local pot shops comes with a caveat -- an official town policy.

Following in the footsteps of other municipalities, such as Aurora, Bradford-West Gwillimbury and Innisfil, town staff are preparing a cannabis policy statement to allow for more municipal say on pot shop locations in town.

While council unanimously approved opening the town to retail stores, town staff are preparing a cannabis policy statement to allow for more municipal control over cannabis retail locations.

Georgina’s policy statement, which will act as official criteria for a licensed cannabis shop in town, is expected come before council in late June and could recommend stronger setbacks from schools as well as setbacks from daycare centres, community centres, group homes, shelters, existing addition service centres and a more even distribution in town.

As of April 13, there are six cannabis shops and another 13 pending between Aurora and Whitchurch-Stouffville, which opted in back in 2019, compared to 603 shops in Ontario and another 918 pending.

Earlier this year, about 30 retail cannabis licenses were approved weekly across the province by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.