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Pelham asks Thorold for help to pay legal costs against cannabis producers

"Hundreds of residents have suffered ongoing adverse effects"
cannabis

The town of Pelham is asking Thorold and Welland for financial support in its ongoing legal battle with cannabis producers in the municipality.

In a letter sent to Thorold city council, the Pelham councillors plead for a contribution of $15,000 to cover some of the costs in the litigation between the town and Woodstock Biomed, CannTrust Holdings and Redecan Pharm in various proceedings in the Local Planning Appeal Tribuna, LPAT.

The letter said Pelham’s proceedings are expected to land its taxpayers with a bill of over $300,000 in litigation costs.

“(…) hundreds of residents have suffered ongoing adverse effects (particularly light and odour pollution) from cannabis facilities in the Town, and the Town will have to incur ongoing enforcement costs in order to have any hope of mitigating these adverse effects,” stated the motion.

This summer, the town also added a $5,000 smell detector to crack down on the issues they say surround the licensed producers operating within town limits.

The motion stated that the issue encompasses all municipalities in the Niagara region, and also called for the region to seek party status in the ongoing litigation, as well as support from the local MP and MPP.

“I feel for the town of Pelham, but I can’t see us contribute with cash for legal defense,” said coun. Anthony Longo, adding that the issue is bigger than the municipal level, before council agreed to file the letter.