Big three Northeast communities to allow legalized marijuana shops

The councils of the three largest Northeast communities will be allowing legalized cannabis retailers to set up shop.

The Saskatchewan government announced Jan. 8 that Tisdale, Melfort and Nipawin were some of the 40 communities that could have a retail outlet that will be able to sell the drug. The councils of these communities had the option to block the stores from establishing themselves in their boundaries.

Melfort council decided to allow a store after a long discussion at a committee of the whole meeting Jan. 24.

“We decided that, you know what, it’s going to be legal and so we’re going to go along with the idea of allowing a cannabis retail outlet because it’s legal,” said Rick Lang, Melfort’s mayor. “The feeling on council was if we were to take the stance we weren’t going to allow it, it’s not going to change anything as far as the substance being in the community.

“We might as well be part of the process that is having it legal and controlled.”

Lang said his council wasn’t enthusiastic about it, but noted there must have been similar feelings when Saskatchewan repealed alcohol prohibition in 1925.

“A comment was made that 20 years from now, we might wonder what the big fuss was about or we might say, ‘that’s what the big fuss was about.’ Time will tell.”

Tisdale council made their decision at a Jan. 18 committee of the whole.

“We didn’t have any good reasons to opt out,” said Al Jellicoe, Tisdale’s mayor, after council met Jan. 22.

The mayor said later in a statement he believes a robust regulatory regime being developed by the federal and provincial governments in combination with the town’s bylaws will mitigate any risk to children, adults and property.

“We realize that some citizens may not be in favour, but we have to weigh the opportunity versus the risks,” the statement said. “As a progressive business-minded community, we have allowed other government-licensed establishments, such as liquor stores and pubs, to reside in Tisdale.”

Nipawin council decided at a council meeting Jan. 22. Barry Elliott, the town’s administrator, said council felt that legalization is coming and that people would be able to get a hold of it, even if it was sold in a neighbouring community.

“At the very least, there’s economic opportunity here,” he said. “We can only speculate at the extent of that.”

All three communities said they were waiting for more details on how marijuana legalization will be implemented as well as what rules and regulations will look like.