Brampton votes in favour of privately-owned cannabis retail stores

Posted: 10:53 am, January 22, 2019 by admin

BRAMPTON, ON – After several weeks of public consultation, Brampton City Council today voted to allow privately-owned cannabis retail stores in Brampton.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) will manage the licensing, renewals and enforcement of private cannabis retail stores. The earliest that a store could be open in Brampton is April 1, 2019.

Since cannabis was legalized in October 2018, the use of cannabis is allowed in areas where smoking tobacco is allowed. The City will continue to work with its partners at Peel Regional Police and Peel Public Health in enforcing the use of cannabis.

Licensing of stores
Private retailers will be licensed and regulated by the AGCO. The Province of Ontario announced in December 2018 that it will issue 25 licences across Ontario for stores to open by April 1, 2019, with a maximum of six retail stores in the GTA Region (Durham, York, Peel, Halton) for the short term. Retailers will not be permitted to allow anyone under the age of 19 to enter their stores.

Location of stores
Legal retail stores will need to observe a minimum distance of 150 metres from schools. Based on the distance restriction, the properties that are zoned to permit retail establishments are highlighted on this map available on the City website.

AGCO will facilitate a mandatory 15-day public notification period of a proposed store location. This is an opportunity for the AGCO to receive public input and hear concerns from the community. Details of proposed stores will be made available on AGCO website via the iAGCO portal with the opportunity to provide comments directly to them when licensed retail spaces have been identified. The AGCO Registrar may refuse to authorize the store if it is in the public interest to do so. The only areas of public interest the Registrar can consider, as defined by the regulations, are related to public health and safety, protecting youth and restricting their access to cannabis and preventing illegal activities in relation to cannabis.

Municipal funding
On January 14, 2019, the City of Brampton and Region of Peel each received the first payment of $220,018 from the Province, through the Ontario Cannabis Legalization Implementation Fund (OCLIF). With Council’s decision to opt-in, the City is now positioned to receive additional funding from the Province.

Enforcement of use of cannabis
Smoking recreational cannabis is legal where tobacco consumption is permitted under the Smoke Free Ontario Act in Brampton. For details on where cannabis is legal, read the FAQs. Recreational cannabis use will be enforced as follows:

• Peel Regional Police is responsible for enforcing the federal and provincial cannabis legislation
• Peel Public Health will enforce the Smoke Free Ontario Act and deal with places of use for both tobacco and cannabis
• City of Brampton Corporate Security and Enforcement and By-law Services will be involved in enforcement on City-owned properties, e.g. parks; and apply various by-laws in response to disturbance complaints. Contact Service Brampton (311) regarding the illegal use of cannabis.

Brampton votes in favour of privately-owned cannabis retail stores

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