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.
Winkler officials responded by confirming a new plebiscite may be held in October if council approves the resolution. Steinbach, however, declined a similar motion earlier in the year. In response, Lavoy and local supporters have shifted toward launching a formal petition—one that, if successful, would force another municipal vote on cannabis sale.
The petition process requires approval from the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA). Once approved, organizers will have 90 days to collect signatures. Lavoy plans to begin gathering support in March, hoping that residents now view legal cannabis sale through a more informed lens.
Advocates argue that allowing regulated cannabis sale would align these communities with the rest of the province, promote consumer safety, and create new economic opportunities. Many residents who travel to other cities for legal products believe the ban no longer reflects the realities of modern cannabis use.
Whether Winkler, Steinbach, or other municipalities will ultimately adopt legal cannabis sale remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the conversation is far from over, and communities are ready to engage with updated facts and fresh perspectives.