Municipal Policy Statement on Cannabis

Malahide, Ontario · adopted 2019-03-21

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot 6bca535b0f44 · verified 2026-06-10 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

MUNICIPALPOLICYSTATEMENT ONCANNABIS 1.0 Purpose & Vision a) Thepurpose ofthispolicystatement istoprovideaformatforthe Township ofMalahide toprovide inputtotheAlcoholandGaming Commission ofOntario (AGCO), aswellashelpprospective recreational cannabis retailers intheirconsideration oflocationofcannabis retail storesinMalahide Township. b) Itisrecognized theAGCOistheprovincial authority responsible for licensing cannabis retailoperators, authorizing cannabis retaillocations andlicensing seniorstorestaff. Municipal governments havenolicensing authority. TheAGCO regulates andreviews allaspectsoftheretail operation including municipal andpublicinput, thattheproposed store location isconsistent withthepublicinterest asdefinedintheregulations. c) TheTownship ofMalahide haschosentoallowretailsalesofrecreational cannabis withincommercial zones. 2.0 PrinciplesforCannabisRetailStoreLocations a) Forthepurposes ofthispolicystatement, acannabis retailstoreshall meanastorelicensed orunderapplication tobelicensed bytheAGCO. b) LandUsePlanning: Theprovincial licensing process doesnotremove the requirement tocomply withthezoningby-lawandothermunicipal planning documents. Thedefinitions withinthemunicipality'sOfficial Plan andZoningBy-lawareapplicable toallretail, including cannabis retail stores. Retailsaleofcannabis fromaprovincially licensed storeislegal andisapermitted useintheretailzones. c) Municipal Building Inspections: TheOntario Building Codeappliesto cannabis retailstorelocations. Therefore, whereabuilding orsignpermit isrequired, applications together withappropriate feesshallbesubmitted totheTownship ofMalahide Building Division. Thebuilding inspector will undertake dutiesasusual. FireCodecompliance ismandatory. 3.0 CannabisRetailStoresandSensitiveActivities Thegoalistohelpensure publichealth andsafety, protectofyouthandreduce illegalsales, retailcannabis storesarediscouraged where nearbyproperties are designed toserveyouth, orthepotential forillegalsalesorhealthriskexist. Itis recommended thata150mdistance bemaintained from: i) Schools asoutlined inO. Reg468.18; ii) Facilities suchas: nursery schools, daycarecentres, municipal libraries, parks, trailheads, andrecreational facilities including community centres andarenas; and iii) Facilities thatservepersons withmental healthoraddiction challenges. Attached isamapshowing theretail/commercial zonesofthemunicipality and theactivities identified ini), ii), andiii) above. 4.0 CommentPreparation & Submission Planning Staffwhenpreparing comments tobesubmitted totheAGCO, shall haveregardfor: i) ensuring zoning allowsaretailuseasapermitted useandwhether the zoneprovisions andregulations ofthezonecanbesatisfied; ii) theseparation distances listedforusesin3.0i), ii) andiii) ofthisPolicy aremet; and iii) thegoalof3.0ismet. Wheretimelimitsdonotallowareporttobebrought before Township Council, theDirector ofDevelopment & Community Services isdelegated the responsibility tosubmit comments totheAGCOonbehalfoftheCorporation. Approved byCouncil March21, 2019