In a six to one vote, members of Elliot Lake City Council accepted the provincial government's invitation to 'opt in' on the legal sale of marijuana and cannabis-related products next April.
It was after nearly half an hour of sometimes emotional debate on the highly polarizing subject that councillors gave their apprehensive approval. Several councillors objected to the way both Ottawa and Queen's Park have rolled out the legalization of cannabis usage and plans for it to be sold. But allowing sales was approved at council's Monday night meeting.
Private retail cannabis stores will be legal in Ontario starting April 1, 2019. Municipalities have until Jan. 22 to decide whether to allow cannabis stores in the community. Elliot Lake councillors had three options:
1. Do not allow cannabis stores.
2. Opt in to allow cannabis stores, a situation Elliot Lake could never opt out of.
3. Opt out with a one-year review.
Councillor Sandy Finamore voiced the strongest objections to both legalization and sales approval. She disagreed with those who hope legalization will curtail criminal drug sales in Elliot Lake. To the contrary, she tried to defer a council vote until after a town hall meeting could held to test public opinion. Her motion failed to gain support.
Finamore said she is angry about the handling of pot sales, with concern about addiction and other health problems, particularly involving children.
"In my work, I see it every day,” she told council. "I am very angry about this whole issue and I'm not afraid to state that publicly. I'm angry with the federal government for even taking this stop (for legalization)."
"I'm upset with the province of Ontario for placing this with health authorities and not under the regulation of the LCBO. Not in my community, thank you,” she said.
Councillor Luc Cyr said, "Children have been able to buy marijuana in playgrounds and schoolyards in the city for at least 40 or 50 years, so I don't see an increase in usage."
He reasoned the product being sold legally should be safer than what has been available on the street all along.
"Regular pharmaceuticals cause more death and have caused more death over the years than marijuana,” he noted.
With the exception of Councillor Finamore, the other members of council agreed Elliot Lake can't afford to lose retail sales to other communities. Mayor Dan Marchisella said his experience in the hospitality industry showed alcohol abuse can lead to violent behaviour, but not once did he witness that problem with people who smoked pot.
"There may be a group of people smoking a bong in the parking outside this building when we exit this meeting. The law is in effect," the mayor said.
Councillor Chris Patrie said, "When the province and the feds are holding a gun to our heads they're telling us there is funding involved but they're not telling us what the funding is."
Councillor Tom Turner said Elliot Lake will gain very little in the way of compensatory transfer payments by allowing sales outlets to be established. But he echoed other councillors When he said Elliot Lake can't afford to loose business to our neighbours.
As it stands right now, cannabis outlets must be located 150 metres or more from a school.