At last night’s special Council meeting they announced that Wingham Police will no longer be enforcing Canada Criminal Code marijuana laws. This effectively has legalized marijuana within Wingham town limits, much like Communities in British Columbia. This does not apply to the rest of North Huron, Blyth & East Wawanosh, as they are policed by the OPP. Wingham is able to do this by having the Police Service Board direct the Chief of Police to not enforce marijuana laws, just like in BC.
Highlights:
You must obtain a grow license from Town Hall at a cost of $50 per square foot a year.
Only marijuana grown in Wingham under a valid grow license is legal to be sold.
There is a 20% sales tax on all marijuana and marijuana products.
10,000 square feet of grow rooms would generate an estimated $2,500,000 a year for the Wingham Ward, which is more than currently raised by Wingham property taxes. Wingham property taxes will be lowered by the amount raised by legalization. It is estimated that the Wingham property tax rate will drop to 1% in 2016 and to zero by 2017. By the end of 2018 it is expected that all services will be free, from bag tags to swimming pool access. Those estimates are based on reaching 15,000 square feet of grow space by 2018.
Real estate agents have been bombarded this morning regarding available Wingham real estate. One agent said he had arranged 18 showings this morning for commercial property, more than he did for all of 2014. Several offers on residential properties have already been submitted based on this news, all above or at asking price. One agent said It’s a gold rush