Guelph will open one of Ontario’s first four recreational pot shops

The City of Guelph is getting put on the ‘marijuana map’ – as the locations of Ontario’s first four provincially-run cannabis stores have been announced.

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario and the Ontario Cannabis Store say the shops will be in Kingston, Toronto, Thunder Bay, and the Royal City.

Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie says he got a heads up a few days ago.

“I was told the announcement would probably be coming this week, and we were also notified several months ago that we would be receiving one of the stores. Of course, the city has no say in the matter – it’s just happening,” explains Guthrie. “So what we were concerned about, and what the province did, is created a working group with many stakeholders like Public Health, Guelph Police, our bylaw, and city staff – to make sure we were looking for a location that would be the right fit for such a store.”

The locations for the stores are said to comply with local zoning rules, minimize proximity to schools, and factor in where illegal dispensaries are currently operating.

Ironically enough, the pot shop in Guelph will be located at 304 Stone Road West – and Guthrie says he supports that choice.

“The fact that we don’t have a say in getting one, but were able to work with the working group to try and find the right location was really important. To have it now land in this commercially zoned area, on a transit route, and not near residential or school areas – it really is the best fit for a location for such a store.”

When it comes to public perception leading up to marijuana legalization, Guthrie says it’s a bit of a ‘mixed bag’ – no pun intended.

“There’s a lot of people that are welcoming it, and there’s another side that doesn’t like the overall aspect of having this available, and concerned about security and the narrative in general. It’s a mixed bag of messages, but at the end of the day – everyone seems to understand that the municipality has no say in the matter.”

Due to delays and controversy surrounding Bill C-45, there’s still no concrete timeline for when the shop will open its doors.

“It’s somewhat tied up in the Senate right now waiting for final legislative approval. A few months ago, I was told the government was looking to have initial stores open in July of this year. So, I don’t know if that date has changed – based on any holdups of the legislation. As far as I’m aware, that’s the only date I was told when I received a letter several months ago saying a store was coming.”

Guthrie adds some concerns moving ahead are bylaw enforcement, how citizens will react, and specialized training for Guelph Police.

Forty stores are expected to open this year and another 40 by July of next year. In total, the province plans to set up roughly 150 standalone cannabis stores by 2020.

Ontario was the first province to announce a detailed plan to sell and distribute recreational marijuana and will set the legal age to purchase it at 19.

The federal government introduced legislation last April with a goal of legalizing and regulating the use of recreational pot by this summer, but left it up to individual provinces to design their own distribution system and usage regulations.