12 towns in the northeast opt out of pot shops due to 'fear of the unknown'

The deadline for municipalities to say no to legal cannabis stores has passed and 12 of the 92 in the northeast have opted out.

The province had given towns and cities until 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 22 to decide whether or not to welcome marijuana legal dispensaries.

The ten to opt out in northeastern Ontario are:

• Township of James (Elk Lake)
• Jocelyn Township, on St. Joseph Island
• Killarney
• Matachewan
• Powassan
• Sables-Spanish Rivers (Massey, Walford and Webbwood)
• Temagami
• Township of Papineau-Cameron, near Mattawa
• Township of McGarry(Virginiatown and Kearns)
• Chapleau
• Baldwin Township (McKerrow)
• Markstay-Warren

Powassan Mayor PeterMcIsaacsays town council opted out with a tight vote of 3-2, in which he voted in favour of allowing a dispensary.

"I think fear of the unknown is probably a very good way to put it. Nobody knows how it's all going to roll out," he said.

Jocelyn TownshipReeve Mark Henderson says the main reason his town opted out was provincial funding.

The government has promised every municipality $10,000to adjust tothelegalization of cannabis, but those cities and towns that opt in will get an unknown amount based on a per household formula.

"We just thought if you can't nail down what it's for, we're not going to take it and be obligated," says the long-time reeve of the community of 200 people on St. Joseph Island.

Henderson says he's noticed little change since pot became legal 98 days ago.

"Personal consumption had just gotten down to a point in the country generally where it was illegal, but you just didn't hear about anybody getting charged for it, not around here anyways," he says.

Other issues 'far more pressing'

In the Township of James, Reeve Terry Fisetsays council didn't think cannabis stores wouldbe worth the trouble for the small town of 400.

"For us to have it here and go through all the hoops and paperwork, we're not digging into it. We got other issues that are far more pressing than that right now," he says.

It could be a while before the Ontario government opens up retail marijuana for small towns.

The province has restricted the first two pot shops in the north, set to open by April,to the fourlargest cities:Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and North Bay.