The City of Estevan has chosen to move forward with allowing one retail cannabis outlet following Monday night's city council meeting.

Council was all in favor of the police boards recommendation for having one retail store to buy marijuana, once it becomes legal on the first of July.

"Council has agreed with the police board," said Estevan's Mayor, Roy Ludwig following council on Monday night. "It was the chiefs recommendation to the police board that we go with one, not to cut out any competition by any means because the price will probably be fixed by the liquor board commission. He thought it would be easier to start with one, with the intention to have two down the road."

"From what I'm hearing, some of our elderly people would rather not see any. The problem we have with that is the underground economy is here already, so for us to just say were not going to have it would be somewhat simplistic. People would just order it online or go to Weyburn and get it so we thought it wasn't the best idea."

With just over four and a half months remaining until recreational cannabis becomes legal on Canada Day, Ludwig expects the city to be ready by then.

"The fact that this is a whole new order coming into the police department that we have to look after. It's going to be a very busy time so we want to try to walk before we start running with it. We have our building inspector working diligently on the bylaw and zoning requirements in concert with the police chief. We feel we will be ready, we'll have the bylaw changes that are needed and we'll have the zoning done. 

According to Ludwig, should the city want to add another retail store down the road, they would once again need the recommendation from the police board. As for the location, Ludwig pointed to the downtown area, as there are also specifications regarding distance from schools.