New cannabis stores proposed

There are indications that two new cannabis retailers are or will be seeking permission to operate in the ward.

At 1200B Wellington West, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario has opened a comment period for an application by Spiritleaf to operate from the storefront vacated when the cake shop consolidated into a smaller space.

Close by to us, but out of the ward, there is also an open application for a shop called Chrontact Cannabis at 2280 Carling Avenue.

Both comment periods are open until March 20. You can find all open licence applications and comment on them at the AGCO site here.

There is also a sign at the site of the former Mrs. Tiggy Winkles for a store called Highflight. There’s no licence application for that store yet, though I understand the owners have reached out to my office to set up a time to chat. Before they can operate there, they’ll need to apply for a licence, and I’ll make note of that comment period when it opens in my newsletter.

Edit: High Flight's licence application is now online and the comment period open.

The Province’s regulations are fairly light for cannabis retailers, essentially prohibiting only stores that are within 150m of public or private schools. When Council opted in to cannabis retailing, we set out a policy that we would object to stores that are within: 150m of another cannabis store, 150m of schools (public or private), libraries, community centres, public parks or recreation facilities, or not in an area where retail stores are normally allowed. The City will comment on all applications and object or not according to these criteria. It’s worth noting, however, that the City’s submission isn’t binding. While the City objected to the new Tokyo Smoke location (at Irving) based on its proximity to the park at Somerset Square, the store nonetheless met the Provincial requirements and was granted a licence.

In general, I am not opposed to these stores, and consider that having more of them open is the only way to manage the traffic stress that we’ve been experiencing at the Superette at Wellington/Warren. If licenced, the proposed store in a Carling strip mall with lots of parking should be an attractive location for many arriving by car, for example.