Item - 2023.HL8.4

Tracking Status

This item was considered by Board of Health on November 27, 2023 and was adopted with amendments.

HL8.4 - Cannabis Stores and Revenue Sharing

Decision Type:: ACTION

Status:: Amended

Wards:: All

Board Decision

The Board of Health:

1. Requested the Province of Ontario provide an update on the status of the allocation of Federal Cannabis Excise Duty to municipalities and include public health prevention, promotion, policy and enforcement as allowable expenditures in any future municipal allocation of Federal Cannabis Excise Duty.

2. Requested the Province of Ontario expand evidence-based substance use treatment programs in the healthcare system, such as case management programs, Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinics (RAAM), long term care, as well as in-patient hospital and community-based programming, for both regulated and unregulated substance including opioids, alcohol, stimulants and cannabis.

3. Requested the Mayor to consider allocating future funds from the Federal Cannabis Excise Duty revenue sharing from the Provincial Government to Toronto Public Health’s Mental Health, Substance Use, Harm Reduction and Treatment Strategy.

Origin

(October 13, 2023) Letter from City Council referring Administrative Inquiry IA11.3 and Answer IA11.3a

Summary

City Council on October 11 and 12, 2023, referred Administrative Inquiry IA11.3 from Councillor James Pasternak, Ward 6, York Centre, regarding Cannabis Stores and Revenue Sharing and Answer IA11.3a from the City Manager to the Board of Health for consideration.

Background Information

(October 13, 2023) Letter from City Council referring Administrative Inquiry IA11.3 on Cannabis Stores and Revenue Sharing
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-240672.pdf
(September 29, 2023) Letter from Councillor James Pasternak on Administrative Inquiry into Cannabis Stores and Revenue Sharing
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-240673.pdf
(October 6, 2023) Answer from the City Manager on Response to Administrative Enquiry regarding Cannabis Stores and Revenue Sharing
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2023/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-240674.pdf

Speakers

Councillor James Pasternak

Motions

1 - Motion to Amend Item moved by Councillor Chris Moise (Carried)

That:

1. The Board of Health request the Province of Ontario provide an update on the status of the allocation of Federal Cannabis Excise Duty to municipalities and include public health prevention, promotion, policy and enforcement as allowable expenditures in any future municipal allocation of Federal Cannabis Excise Duty.

2. The Board of Health request the Province of Ontario expand evidence-based substance use treatment programs in the healthcare system, such as case management programs, Rapid Access Addiction Medicine Clinics (RAAM), long term care, as well as in-patient hospital and community-based programming, for both regulated and unregulated substance including opioids, alcohol, stimulants and cannabis.

3. The Board of Health request the Mayor to consider allocating future funds from the Federal Cannabis Excise Duty revenue sharing from the Provincial Government to Toronto Public Health’s Mental Health, Substance Use, Harm Reduction and Treatment Strategy.