Tecumseh and Lakeshore are the first local municipalities to make a decision on pot shops before the January 22 deadline
Tecumseh and Lakeshore are saying no to pot shops.
Councils in each town have voted to opt out of allowing cannabis retail stores in their municipalities.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is in the process of visiting all local municipalities recommending they opt out until more information and data can be gathered.
Eric Nadalin is the health unit's Manager of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention.
He says, at this point, there's too many unknowns.
"We don't have a good example of what could happen post-legalization in terms of retail access to this product. So for municipalities to opt out of cannabis retail, it gives a bit of time to learn a little bit more from municipalities who choose to opt in and make the best decision."
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit's Eric Nadalin (Photo by AM800's Zander Broeckel)
Nadalin says the health unit has taken issue to the fact there's no cap on the number of shops a town can have.
"We realistically won't know the long-term implications of cannabis legalization for a generation, but we can lean on is our experiences with alcohol and tobacco and some of the harms that we've seen associated with the clustering of retail outlets, the proximity of retail outlets near a vulnerable population."
Tecumseh and Lakeshore are the first local municipalities to make a decision on pot shops — the deadline is January 22.
Nadalin says many municipalities are feeling rushed to make a decision.
"It's been a constantly changing set of regulations since the introduction of the idea of legalization back in 2016. So things are changing rapidly and things have changed rapidly over the course of the last few months which speaks to the importance of municipalities taking their time with this decision."
Opting out allows the option to opt back in anytime while a decision to opt in is permanent.
Retail cannabis stores can legally operate in Ontario in April.