The legalization of cannabis products in 2018 by the federal government has resulted in dispensaries popping up almost everywhere, except Mississauga.
66 municipalities in Ontario, including Mississauga, have opted-out of having such establishments within their boundaries. Despite this, recent discussions at City Hall seem to imply an impending change of course for the rapidly growing city.
In 2021, an attempt to lift the prohibition on pot shops in Mississauga was voted down by the City Council. However, another attempt to introduce legal pot shops is in the works, spearheaded by Councillor Dipika Damerla, who originally voted against the previous attempt. Damerla has changed her tune in the years since the last vote. She calls it a result of fighting for years, unsuccessfully, to shut down an illegal dispensary in her ward.
According to a report from city staff, 46% of Mississauga’s cannabis users are purchasing their supply from illegal suppliers.
Damerla feels that the better approach is to reduce the reliance on the black market with legal, regulated products. She is hoping to introduce a motion before City Council in a week and a half to introduce legal pot shops to Mississauga.
Damerla's motion seems to have early support from others on Council, including Mayor Bonnie Crombie, who voted in favour of the previous attempt in 2021. However, Councillor Carolyn Parrish opposes the idea, worrying about too many stores opening too quickly, creating clustering issues and potential financial setbacks for those involved. Parrish also worries about the impact of potential clustering in socioeconomically-challenged neighbourhoods.
According to the City staff's report, four years into legalization, clustering has not been an issue in neighbouring cities like Brampton, Toronto, and Burlington. If it does become an issue in this city, the president and CEO of Mississauga’s Board of Trade feels consumer dollars will thin the herd quickly.
Councillor Damerla’s motion to opt-in will be introduced to a city committee next week in hopes of being passed on to Council the following week.
With her changed outlook and some new faces on Council, Damerla said she feels confident her motion will pass, but also cautious. The ability to operate within a safe, regulated market is paramount. "I think it’s much more important than trying to get the entire regulatory framework perfect," said Trevor McPherson, the president and CEO of Mississauga’s Board of Trade.
Despite Parrish's concerns, the introduction of legal pot shops could help eliminate illegal cannabis sales and ensure that users have access to safe and regulated products. It could also help increase tax revenue for the city and create job opportunities. The upcoming City Council vote will undoubtedly spark a robust debate among council members, but the potential benefits of legal pot shops cannot be ignored.
