Cannabis shops may be on way to Mississauga as council reopens discussion

As the City of Mississauga continues to push the Ontario government for more control over how many cannabis shops can open up and where they can do business, councillors have agreed to revisit the matter once again. 

Mississauga, one of five GTA municipalities to so far deny the operation of legal cannabis stores since weed was legalized in 2018, will again discuss the issue when staff returns with a report in the coming months.

At a Jan. 25 general committee meeting, after hearing from a three-person deputation of industry advocates calling for Mississauga to allow the pot shops, councillors directed staff to study the matter again and produce a report.

The issue at hand has always been control over where the pot shops would be allowed to open and do business. Most Mississauga councillors want to be able to regulate the businesses to some degree.

However, the Ontario government has stood firm in its position and there are no signs it’s about to budge.

Ward 7 Councillor Dipika Damerla, who has been firm in her position that the municipality needs more control over cannabis shops so they don’t pop up everywhere and in clusters, indicated at the Jan. 25 meeting that she may be ready to change her tune.

In asking staff to prepare a report, Damerla suggested she might be open to changing her vote given the provincial government doesn’t appear to be giving an inch on the matter.

The majority of Mississauga councillors have long expressed support for the idea of legal cannabis shops operating in the city, but only if regulated. 

City council officially nixed plans to allow cannabis shops on two occasions in 2021, citing a lack of municipal control. 

Mayor Bonnie Crombie, who’s in favour of allowing the pot shops, said at the time that concerns councillors have are with the clustering of stores in neighbourhoods and the proximity of the shops to playgrounds, schools, counselling facilities, child care and community centres as well as other sites that may be considered sensitive.  

The Ontario government has been steadfast with its rules surrounding the operation and location of cannabis stores. Essentially, it has told local municipalities that if they are to buy into the program, they will have to opt out of the ability to control matters such as how many stores will be allowed to operate and where they will be located.  

Mississauga, Oakville, Markham, Whitby and Vaughan are the only municipalities in the GTA to so far deny the operation of legal cannabis stores.  

Crombie noted at the Jan. 25 meeting that it’s also appropriate to revisit the matter given a significant turnover on council after last October’s municipal election delivered four new councillors to the ranks.

The mayor added that the concern over clustering of pot shops may be diminished now that the market in other municipalities seems to have sorted things out as it has matured.

Crombie also noted that since many Mississauga residents use cannabis, “they should have access to convenient and legal options in our city rather than being forced to travel to other cities or purchase it illegally.”