Residents of Altona have voted “yes” to allowing cannabis stores within the town, after nearly a year of debate within the community.
Of 1,155 voters, 692 — or 60 per cent — voted “yes” to the question: “Should licensed retail cannabis stores be allowed in Altona?”
The plebiscite came nearly a year after a group of citizens petitioned to keep a cannabis store, which had already been approved by the town’s council, from opening.
At the time, their main concerns were around safety and that the drug could become a negative influence in the town.
The vote was supposed to take place in the spring, but was delayed due to COVID-19.
Altona Mayor Al Friesen said he felt the results affirmed the town council’s earlier decision to allow the store, as it’s a legal business that would create jobs in the community.
“We just felt that the community, when we presented the facts in front of them at a number of events that we did, that they agreed with us,” he said.
The town…
