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Pot shops may be coming soon to Aurora, Whitchurch-Stouffville

Corner Grass Corp. proposes to open a cannabis store on Main Street in Whitchurch-Stouffville; Grant Wilson selects the corner of Yonge and Wellington in Aurora
cannabis
File photo/Village Media

While Newmarket turned down the opportunity to host a cannabis retail location, local enthusiasts may soon only be a short drive away from stores in Aurora and Whitchurch-Stouffville.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) today released the 42 winners of its cannabis lottery, and Corner Grass Corp. in Whitchurch-Stouffvile and Grant Willson of Aurora were among those selected at random to open pot shops in those communities.

In Janurary, Newmarket council rejected its staff recommendation to allow pot shops to open in town, and instead put forward a motion that stated Newmarket is not a willing host of a cannabis retail location in the community. It also stipulated it would revisit the issue in one year. 

Cannabis legalization and whether or not to allow pot shops in Newmarket divided the community and fuelled heated debates in council chambers.

In total, 4,864 eligible expressions of interest were received and included in the province’s second lottery draw that will find those successful now able to apply for a cannabis retail operator licence and a retail store authorization.

But unlike the snoozy little fictional town of Dog River that featured prominently on the TV comedy sitcom Corner Gas, which was tucked away in rural Saskatchewan, the proposed Whitchurch-Stouffville pot store location is front-and-centre at 5779 Main St., Unit 105.

Corner Grass proposes to open Whitchurch-Stouffville’s first cannabis store in a bustling district that features an LCBO across the street, with restaurants, retail stores, banks and more nearby.

Willson lists 15243 Yonge St., Unit 3, in Aurora, as his proposed store location. It’s near the busy corner of Yonge and Wellington streets.

The pot-lottery winners have until Aug. 28, 2019 to apply for the licence and authorization to open the proposed stores.  The AGCO said it will undertake a full review of all applications and will only license applicants and authorize stores that meet all legal and regulatory requirements.

To learn more about the selected applicants and their proposed store locations, visit here.

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Kim Champion

About the Author: Kim Champion

Kim Champion is a veteran journalist and editor who covers Newmarket and issues that impact York Region.
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