BRAMPTON- At its December 1st meeting, Regional Councillor Gurpreet Singh Dhillon’s motion requesting the Province of Ontario to grant more powers to municipalities in respect to the licensing and approval process of cannabis shops, passed unanimously.
There are currently 33 cannabis shops operating in Brampton with an additional 15 active applications, while the Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario has full control and authority of the number of shops and their locations. Under current rules, municipalities are able to submit feedback on potential Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) shops only, however the same does not apply for cannabis shops. The resolution also asked that the City of Brampton endorse and support Bill 29, the Cannabis Licence Amendment Act, which is in its second reading, and if passed will align the application process for new cannabis retail licenses to that of retail liquor licences.
“We have seen a boom in cannabis shops in Brampton recently. We are also seeing an
overcrowding of these shops in certain pockets of the City,” said Councillor Dhillon. “In 2019
when the City allowed the private sales of cannabis, I warned of the dangers of not allowing municipalities to have control over where these shops are located, and how many are approved. We are now experiencing the repercussions of it.”
“These shops should not be permitted to operate within close proximity to schools, parks, and
residential areas. I look forward to Province granting our request.”