It was a full house at the Winkler city council meeting this past Tuesday, as licensed cannabis producer Jesse Lavoie led a presentation on the statistics supporting the legal production of cannabis and urged the council to revisit the vote to ban dispensaries within city limits. Making an informed decision In 2018, the dispensary ban was implemented seven days after the nationwide legalization of the substance, something Lavoie says made sense at the time due to public uncertainty and the lack of hard evidence as to what to expect or what legalization would look like in communities. “We're here to try to convince the council and the city of Winkler to rethink their decision to ban dispensaries now that we've had seven years of data on legalization,” Lavoie said following his presentation. Lavoie has been active in cannabis advocacy since 2019, beginning with his efforts against the Manitoba government’s four-plant ban. He now operates a Manitoba-based licensed cannabis production company, though his personal connection to the industry began years earlier. “I used to be a Manitoba correctional officer. I was involved in a very violent incident, and I used cannabis to heal my physical injuries,” he explained. “That changed my whole perspective from ‘law enforcement, don't touch cannabis’ to ‘there's something more here.’ I joined the legal industry as an employee in 2017. Now I own and operate a Manitoba local cannabis licensed producer.” Related stories: Residents voice opposition to RM of Stanley wastewater project Winkler's history is in the process of being refreshed — here's how to help Impacts of legalization During his presentation, Lavoie pointed to both economic and social impacts of legalization. “The numbers speak for themselves. Hundreds of millions of dollars in cannabis revenue in this province alone. Thousands of Manitobans have been employed by it,” he noted. He said council members were receptive and asked thoughtful questions. For those still skeptical of legalization, Lavoie encouraged a closer look at the data. “I'd say look at the numbers, look at the community safety, look at the country, everywhere else. We've seen nothing but positive effects from legalization. And seventy-nine billion added to the GDP. That's not something to shy away from.” - With files from Jesse Lavoie -