Amherstburg voted 5-1 in favour of allowing cannabis storefronts at a special council meeting Monday night.
Municipalities across Ontario have until Jan. 22 to opt-in or opt-out of allowing retail cannabis sales within their boundaries.
After a lengthy debate Councillor Peter Courtney was the lone opposition to the move. He says his decision isn't about being "anti-pot," it's about regulation.
"I just want to make sure our town comes first and we have a say in regards to how we dictate how it's going to unfold and we don't have that power right now," he says. "Locations to schools and the 150-metres were a real concern for them [residents he spoke too] and it's a concern for me. I think our town is so small that we should have a little more governance and say on location and we don't have that."
The town is in the midst of rebranding its image and Courtney's concerned over the image pot shops might project.
"The tight restrictions that the governments made that it has to be in retail locations, most of our retail locations are downtown which means history, gift shops, Navy Yard Park," he says. "We can't stipulate where we put the store, or the number of stores, and that's concerning to me."
Mayor Aldo DiCarlo is surprised the vote wasn't closer.
"I thought it would have been a little bit closer, but after a lot of discussion on the issues, council voted overwhelmingly to allow cannabis retail stores in Amherstburg," says DiCarlo. "We'll never be able to represent everybody's individual opinion but this was one of those topics where it was clear the majority of people were either definitely in favour or were indifferent and thought it was something we should try."
Windsor also voted Monday night in favour of allowing retail cannabis stores.
Essex, Kingsville, Leamington and Pelee Island have also opted-in while LaSalle, Lakeshore and Tecumseh have already opted-out.
Amherstburg won't qualify for a store-front licence until at least next year based on its population.