The City of Owen Sound has made a decision to “opt in” to the retail sale of cannabis. This means the Province, through the AGCO, will consider licensing stores that would be permitted to sell recreational cannabis in Owen Sound.

A Municipal Cannabis Policy Statement would set out specific and locally sensitive considerations or uses to represent the expectations of the community in allowing cannabis retail stores. The statement would be used by municipal staff to provide input to the AGCO within the proposed 15-day review period.

At this time, retail cannabis stores are restricted to municipalities with a population of over 50,000 who have “opted in” under the provincial regulation. The City does therefore have some time to prepare the policy as Owen Sound will not have a location receive a retail cannabis store retail licence in the first round.

The intent of the policy, in part, is to reflect locally sensitive land uses. The City’s Policy Statement is to reflect the local community and will be based on feedback from the community and stakeholders on proposed locations of retail cannabis stores in Owen Sound.

Open House Sessions will be held:
Monday, February 25th
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
and
5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
City Hall - 808 2nd Avenue East, Owen Sound.

The public can also provide feedback online and review additional background information at www.owensound.ca/retailcannabis.

Comments to the AGCO are restricted to matters of “public interest”, which are defined as follows:

i. Protecting public health and safety;

ii. Protecting youth and restricting their access to cannabis; and

iii. Preventing illicit activities in relation to cannabis.

There is NO regulatory requirement however for the AGCO to act on municipal input (or public input) that is received.

The policy, once adopted by Council, would be shared with the AGCO and used by City staff to provide comments during the 15-day commenting period.

Printed copies of the survey will be available for pick up and return at Service Owen Sound, located at City Hall.

More information and background reports can be obtained at www.owensound.ca/retailcannabis.

source: media release, City of Owen Sound