East Gwillimbury to host public meeting on cannabis production facilities April 20

The town passed an interim control bylaw in 2020 to help stop the proliferation of marijuana greenhouses in the rural area

Yorkregion.com
April 14, 2022
Simon Martin

April 20 (known to pot enthusiasts as 4/20) in East Gwillimbury is going to be lit. The town is hosting a public meeting about the regulation of cannabis production facilities in the area.

The purpose of the meeting is to seek input from council and the public for the preferred way of regulating cannabis facilities in town and where the facilities are allowed in the town.

In 2020, the town passed an interim control bylaw restricting the development of cannabis production facilities outside of industrial zoned areas for one year as it evaluated the situation. This was after the town used four cease-and-desist notices, three orders to comply and two stop work orders. At the time, East Gwillimbury Mayor Virginia Hackson said the measure was necessary to help gain more control over the current situation. “It gives us the tools to see what is going on,” she said. “It provides the town with time.”

The town’s strong stance has stopped more growers from attempting to set up shop in East Gwillimbury, Mayor Virginia Hackson said. “They know that East Gwillimbury is not a friendly place for them to do business,” she said.

The virtual public meeting will take place at 6 p.m. People wishing to comment can email clerks@eastgwillimbury.ca by noon on April 15. The livestream of the meeting will be available at eastgwillimbury.ca/portal.