Moorefield resident, business owner hope to open pot shop in village
MOOREFIELD – Plans for a new cannabis store in Mapleton likely won’t be coming to fruition.
Local resident and realtor Josh McPhee pitched the idea of a retail cannabis store to Mapleton council on June 9.
But the stores are prohibited in Mapleton Township, so council would need to revisit that decision in order for the store to be allowed, which doesn’t look likely.
McPhee said he would like to set up shop in the empty space beside Keji’s Convenience, where Pretty Penny used to be.
McPhee said he would initially not need any additional staff, but hopes to create local employment opportunities in the future as the business grows.
The proposed hours would be 10am to 8pm, and the target market would be “adults aged 19 and over who chose to purchase cannabis products responsibly,” McPhee stated.
The closest school to the proposed store is about 525 metres away, he noted.
McPhee was hopeful council might consider allowing retail cannabis sales, which are currently prohibited in the township.
Mapleton council received his delegation for information, and did not bring forward any motion to go back on opting out of allowing cannabis sales in the municipality.
The decision was initially made in January 2019, when residents filled the council chamber to witness the unanimous vote, which some applauded.
At that time, council noted that opting out doesn’t mean cannabis stores won’t be allowed at a future date.
But if they opt in, there would be no turning back.
Mayor Gregg Davidson recently told the Community News, “Personally, I don’t believe it’s the right time to have cannabis come in to our community.
“We have cannabis shops in Minto and Wellington North, and down in Woolwich and Listowel. There’s cannabis shops all around our community.”
He added, “There’s other retail stores that we desperately need in our community that we don’t have right now,” such as restaurants, a bubble tea shop, or a new home for a pharmacy that is looking to expand.
