Following the legalization of cannabis in Canada, entrepreneurs and businesses across the country have been eager to take advantage of this new business opportunity, seeking to benefit from a previously untapped legal market. 

The framework and guidelines put in place by the Canadian government at the federal and provincial levels and by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario back at the beginning of 2019 were merely temporary as the country sought to grapple with this new market. 

Since then the regulations have changed and many cannabis stores have sprung up in Clarence-Rockland, even though under the original framework the Municipality didn't meet the criteria to host such stores.

Due to the updated framework and the fact that Councilors have no say over where and, more importantly, how many stores can open locally, the City Council are now reviewing their options and are seeking the backing of other muncilipaties to ask for more restrictions be put in place. 

We spoke to Ward 1 Councilor Samuel Cardarelli about why the municipality opted in to a program over which they had so little control and what steps it is taking to rectify the problem.

Councilor Cardarelli explains that the City originally opted in as they didn't wasn't to be left behind following the gap of this new market and they saw the economical benefits of it. 

The excess of Cannabis stores locally could warp public image of the City, leading to the potential for Clarence-Rockland to be know as the "weed capital" of Eastern Ontario. 

Currently there are two stores open in the City with two more due to open later in 2021.