In 2019, Whitby Council voted to opt out of allowing legal cannabis stores within the town.

Since then, neighbouring communities such as Oshawa or Ajax have permitted legal cannabis retailers, providing years of real-world evidence regarding their impacts on communities, businesses, and public safety.

Today, Whitby residents can legally purchase cannabis through neighbouring municipalities, delivery services, and provincial online sales. However, Whitby continues to prohibit legal cannabis retail stores from operating within town boundaries.

Many residents believe it is time to review whether this policy continues to reflect the needs and priorities of the community.

Why This Matters

• Whitby residents already have legal access to cannabis and are often spending money in neighbouring municipalities.
• Licensed cannabis retailers operate under strict provincial regulations, including age verification requirements to enter the premises.
• Economic activity (jobs, commercial property taxes, local secondary spending)
• Community opinions may have changed since the original decision was made in 2019.
• Neighbouring municipalities have provided several years of experience that can now be evaluated using real-world data rather than speculation.

We respectfully request that Whitby Council place the cannabis retail opt-out decision back on the agenda for review, and conduct a new public consultation process to determine whether the current policy continues to reflect the wishes of Whitby residents.

Sincerely,

Skyler Fairbairn, Whitby Resident