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Cannabis Information

Vaughan Council votes to opt-out of allowing licensed retail cannabis stores

Mayor and Council held public meeting to hear directly from residents

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua’s motion to opt-out from allowing licensed retail cannabis stores to operate in Vaughan received was passed with majority support from Council.

The decision was made following a Special Committee of the Whole meeting on Jan. 21 at City Hall. During the meeting, the public had the opportunity to share their thoughts about licensed retail cannabis stores and engage directly with Mayor and Members of Council.

The date and time of the meeting were selected in December 2018 to ensure residents and community groups could have maximum notice and sufficient time to prepare to participate in this important debate. The provincial government imposed a deadline of Jan. 22, 2019 on all municipalities to formally submit a decision to opt-in or opt-out. A non-response by the imposed deadline will by default permit licensed retail cannabis stores to operate.

City of Vaughan staff continue their review of the Ontario government’s legislation regarding the sale, distribution and consumption of recreational cannabis in the province. Staff from the City of Vaughan continue to participate as active members of a York Regional Cannabis Working Group, which is made up of representatives from the Region, area municipalities and first responders. The issue of recreational cannabis legalization is continually evolving.

QUOTE

“We have actively engaged and listened to citizens about the issue of recreational cannabis and the presence of cannabis retail stores in the city. Members of the public have been clear. Families do not want greater access to cannabis in our community. There are far too many unanswered questions and the people of Vaughan have demonstrated to us that they are not comfortable with opting-in. The health and safety of Vaughan’s children, youth and all citizens remain of paramount importance. Vaughan, and all municipalities, needs dedicated, predictable and substantial funding from both the Canadian and Ontario governments to help ensure the administration and consumption of recreational cannabis is done in a safe, informed and responsible manner. This is not the current situation.”

- Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua

QUICK FACTS

A list of Ontario municipalities prohibiting or allowing licensed retail cannabis stores is available online.
Effective Oct. 17, 2018, recreational cannabis became legal across Canada.

LEARN MORE

Visit ontario.ca/cannabis
Visit vaughan.ca/CannabisInfo
Call the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General at 1-800-518-7901
Contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament

Information about cannabis in York Region

To learn more about cannabis in York Region, visit the information on cannabis legalization.

Information about cannabis in the city of Vaughan

The following is the City of Vaughan’s official public statement:

“Effective Oct. 17, 2018, recreational cannabis became legal across Canada. City of Vaughan staff continue their review of the Ontario government’s new legislation regarding the sale, distribution and consumption of recreational cannabis in the province. Staff from the City of Vaughan continue to participate as active members of a York Regional Cannabis Working Group, which is made up of representatives from the Region, area municipalities and first responders. The issue of recreational cannabis legalization is continually evolving. Staff will continue to monitor the issue closely over the next few weeks. The City of Vaughan remains committed to protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of all residents. For more information about the provincial government’s regulations, please call the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General at 1-800-518-7901, visit or contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament.”

Frequently asked questions

1. Where can you smoke and vape cannabis*?

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 and the Cannabis Act, 2017 would be amended to clarify where the smoking and vaping of medical and recreational cannabis is permitted as well as where it is prohibited, such as in enclosed public places and enclosed workplaces, vehicles and boats.

The City does not regulate where the smoking of recreational cannabis can take place.

*Additional restrictions on smoking and vaping may exist in lease agreements and the policies of employers and property owners.

For more information, please visit ontario.ca/cannabis, call the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General at 1-800-518-7901 or contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament.

2. Where will cannabis be sold?

People 19 years old and over will be able to purchase recreational cannabis online through the Ontario Cannabis Store. As of Oct. 17, 2018, the Ontario Cannabis Store website will be the only legal option for purchasing recreational cannabis. It will follow strict rules set by the federal government and the provincial government.

For more information, please visit ontario.ca/cannabis, call the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General at 1-800-518-7901 or contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament.

The provincial government has also introduced legislation that, if passed, would introduce a tightly regulated private retail model for recreational cannabis that would launch by April 1, 2019.

The legislation would establish the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) as the provincial regulator authorized to grant store licenses. The Ontario Cannabis Store would be the exclusive wholesaler to these stores. Private stores would be introduced with strict controls to safeguard children and youth and combat the illegal market.

For more information on private retail please visit the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

3. Is there a by-law around odour?

The proposed Ontario Cannabis Act, the current Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2006 and the proposed Smoke Free Ontario Act, 2017 do not address odour issues.

Currently, most municipalities, including the City of Vaughan, do not regulate odours.

4. Who is responsible for responding to complaints and enforcing the legislation?

York Region, Public Health, Tobacco and Electronic Cigarettes Control Officers will enforce the current Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2006 and the Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015. Officers will enforce the proposed Smoke -Free Ontario Act, 2017 and if it moves forward it will combine the existing Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2006 and Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2015.

Criminal matters are under the jurisdiction of police services.

5. What rights, if any, do tenants and homeowners have regarding smoking and growing recreational cannabis in a rental property?

For information on tenant and homeowner rights and responsibilities regarding the smoking and growing of recreational cannabis, please contact the Landlord and Tenant Board at 1-888-332-3234.

6. How far from a school/bus shelter/library/hospital/community centre etc. does a person need to be to be able to smoke cannabis?

The Smoke-Free Ontario Act will regulate where cannabis can and cannot be smoked. The Smoke -Free Ontario Act is under the jurisdiction of York Region Public Health. For more information please contact York Region.

For additional information on proposed legislation and places of use for recreational cannabis, please visit ontario.ca/cannabis.

7. What does the City of Vaughan manage versus York Region?

York Region Public Health, Tobacco and Electronic Cigarettes Control Officers will enforce the proposed Smoke Free Ontario Act, 2017 which will regulate the sale, supply, use, display and promotion of tobacco and vapour products, including smoking and vaping of cannabis.

8. What is the minimum age to buy recreational cannabis?

The legal age to buy, use, possess and grow recreational cannabis is 19 years old. This is the same minimum age for the sale of tobacco and alcohol in Ontario.

For more information, please visit ontario.ca/cannabis, call the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General at 1-800-518-7901 or contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament.

9. What is the minimum age to grow recreational cannabis?

The legal age to buy, use, possess and grow recreational cannabis is 19 years old. This is the same minimum age for the sale of tobacco and alcohol in Ontario.

For more information, please visit ontario.ca/cannabis, call the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General at 1-800-518-7901 or contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament.

10. Can homegrown cannabis be sold legally for recreational purposes?

No.

For more information, please visit ontario.ca/cannabis, call the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General at 1-800-518-7901 or contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament.

11. What types of cannabis will be sold legally?

For more information, please visit ontario.ca/cannabis, call the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General at 1-800-518-7901 or contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament.

I am concerned about a grow-op in my neighbourhood, who can I call?

Recreational home cultivation of cannabis permits four plants per residence indoor or outdoor (not per person). Health Canada permits individuals with medical authorization to grow cannabis; the allowance varies from person to person, dependent on their prescription and the number of plants permitted is calculated by Health Canada.

Call your local police department’s non-emergency line to report suspected criminal activity.

In York Region, that number is 1-866-876-5423.

12. What is being done to protect our at-risk residents (youth, homeless, sheltered and seniors)?

Consult provincial and federal governments for existing education and information programs already in progress across the country.

Selling or providing cannabis to underage children is a crime. The Province’s online retail store will include strict age verification measures.

For more information, please visit ontario.ca/cannabis, call the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General at 1-800-518-7901 or contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament.

13. What are the dangers of being around someone smoking recreational cannabis (second hand smoke/odour)?

For more information, please visit ontario.ca/cannabis, call the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General at 1-800-518-7901 or contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament.

14. Has the legalization of recreational cannabis changed any laws regarding the use of medicinal cannabis?

For more information, please visit ontario.ca/cannabis, call the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General at 1-800-518-7901 or contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament.

15. Are cannabis edibles legal?

For more information, please visit ontario.ca/cannabis, call the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General at 1-800-518-7901 or contact your local Member of Provincial Parliament.

Contact Information

By-law and Compliance, Licensing and Permit Services

Phone: 905-832-2281

Fax: 905-832-8549

Email: bylaw.licensing@vaughan.ca

Location:
Vaughan City Hall, Level 100
2141 Major Mackenzie Dr.
Vaughan, ON L6A 1T1

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Vaughan Council votes to opt-out of allowing licensed retail cannabis stores

Information about cannabis in the city of Vaughan

Frequently asked questions

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