Windsor and Amherstburg are the lone hold outs when it comes to deciding whether to opt-in or out of retail pot — and they're taking it down to the wire.
So far Essex, Kingsville and Leamington are the only municipalities in Essex County to opt-in on retail and Fabio Costante is leaning towards adding Windsor to the list.
The Ward 2 councillor tells AM800 News he's done his homework and there's one big selling point that can't be ignored.
"A further reduction and hopefully the eventual elimination of the black market and I think I see an opportunity with that if we pass retail cannabis," he says.
As of Friday night 15-delegates are set to speak at council, and Costante will keep an open mind at the meeting.
"I'm curious to hear from the delegates and administrations report and the conversation at council on Monday," he says. “I’m taking all of that into consideration, that helps inform certainly my view and a lot of it's pointed out in the administrations report, which I think was very, very well done to draw the pros and cons."
LaSalle, Lakeshore and Tecumseh have already opted-out — any municipality that doesn't notify the province they're opting-out by Jan. 22 will be automatically opting-in.
Unlike Essex, Kingsville and Leamington, Windsor currently has a large enough population to obtain a licenced store.
— with files from AM800's Rob Hindi.