Advocate Pushes Immediate Cannabis Sale Shift

Since Canada legalized recreational cannabis in 2018, licensed dispensaries across Manitoba have provided safe access to regulated products. Yet despite this national shift, a handful of municipalities including Winkler and Steinbach continue to prohibit cannabis sale within their borders. Today, growing community interest and new data are prompting advocates to push for change.

Shortly after legalization, provincial rules allowed cities to hold local votes to determine whether dispensaries would operate in their communities. Both Winkler and Steinbach opted out. Winkler residents voted 2,112 against and 923 in favor, while Steinbach rejected retail access with 3,686 opposed and 1,732 supporting. Those results created zones where cannabis sale remained off-limits despite legalization across Canada.

But advocates like Jesse Lavoy argue that the 2018 votes happened without the benefit of real-world data. At the time, communities had no way of knowing how legalization would impact public safety, youth consumption, or local economies. Now, with years of national experience to analyze, Lavoy believes it's time to revisit these decisions—and potentially welcome regulated cannabis sale into cities that previously opted out.

Lavoy recently presented his case to the City of Winkler, encouraging councilors to reconsider the ban. He emphasized that evidence from across Canada shows legal cannabis sale reduces black-market activity, increases product safety, and generates tax revenue that benefits local services. According to his proposal, residents should once again have the opportunity to vote on whether cannabis sale should be permitted.

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