Hamilton will look at the benefits - not just the drawbacks - of allowing cannabis stores

The report that will helpHamilton city councillorsdecide whether to allow legal cannabis stores here just got a little more marijuana friendly.

City staffers are putting together a reportfor a Jan. 14 meeting. That's when council will cast its ultimate vote on whether to allow cannabis retail.

Now, that report will include how much money cannabis could bring infor the city if it decides to opt in.

Brad Clark, Ward 9 councillor who supports being a host city, pushedfor that Wednesday. Cannabis might create enough jobs and tax revenue, he said, to make this all worthwhile.

"If we really want to compare apples to apples, we need to understand what the true costs (of legalization) are, and what the total revenue will be," he said.

Money generated from cannabis stores, he said, is "revenue we could use to enforce the laws."

Whether to allow cannabis retail is thefirst bigquestion council hasfaced since the October election. Sofar, councillorsare almost evenly split on the subject.

Marijuana became legal this year. Municipalities can opt in or out of allowing retail stores. In January, the provincewill grant 25 licencesto start.

Hamilton has until Jan. 22 to tell the province if it's opting out. If it opts in, the province will grant the licences, and Hamilton will only be able to comment on them.

If the city opts out, it can opt in later. If the city opts in, it can't opt out later.

Money is a big issue. Cannabis legalization comes with costs, including health promotion and bylaw enforcement. Hamilton will get$574,493 this year whether it hosts legal cannabis shops or not. If Hamilton is a host city, it will also be in linefor $574,493 thefollowing year, as well as a portion of thefederal excise tax on the product.

Water rates are increasing

Hamilton has grappled with illegal cannabis dispensaries, with about 85 operating earlier this year. Now, it's down to 30.

Hamilton Police Service will also bring a reportfor Jan. 14 on policing costs aroundcannabis stores.

Councillors opposed to the stores say the city should opt out until it gets more provincial money to cover legalization costs. Others want more control over where the stores are located.

Those infavour say opting in puts the city in linefor future money. Others say it's importantfor Hamiltonians to have legal access to cannabis, rather than beingforced to use the black market.

Here's what else city council approved Wednesday:

• Looking into providing menstrual products to people who are homeless.
• 252 condo conversions, lamenting again that the city needs tighter regulations around when apartments can be converted to condos.
• An increase in water rates, which amounts to 4.66 per cent on the average home, or $32.20.
• A new program to move families out of hotels and into housing. The city puts families in hotels when there's no room in shelters, and the cost of that is rising every year. Council also approved looking into a $50,000 fund tenants can use to get legal help when landlords raise the rent above the provincial guideline (currently 1.8 per cent).