Planning Recommendations for Land Use Regulations for the Cultivation of Non-Medical Cannabis in Ontario

On October 17, 2018, the Cannabis Act came into effect and non-medical cannabis became legal in all Canadian provinces and territories. Federal and provincial efforts focused on how cannabis would be sold and consumed, but hardly touch on the considerations for growing and cultivation. Issues such as nuisances and governance emerge in this fledgling field without any indication from public officials that these will be addressed. This paper makes recommendations at both the provincial and municipal levels on how to best adapt current land use regulations to minimize nuisances, ensure the most appropriate lands are used for cannabis production and permit economic prosperity for cannabis producers.