The City of Swift Current will not be opting out for the chance to be the home of two cannabis stores.

Swift Current now joins Maple Creek as the other southwest municipality to move forward planning to allow a pot shop.

Swift Current Mayor Denis Perrault said by the City choosing not to opt-out (the deadline is February 28), they will be looking to the provincial government for guidance moving forward.

"It's our hope that we will be getting a lot more information from the province," he said. "I know they're going through consultation and they're trying to gather data and information. We as a City are waiting for that so that we know how to proceed."

Legalization doesn't look to become legal until at least August with Senate members just agreeing on a path forward for Bill C-45.

With the eventual day however looming, Perrault feels they don't have much of an option other than to follow suit with other urban centres.

"We as a municipality, in my opinion, don't have much choice but to move forward," he said. "When I'm talking to the public there doesn't seem to be a lot of push either for or against."

One thing the first-term mayor says they might have some control over, and should have a strong voice on is, where the dispensaries are located throughout the city.

"That's where municipalities can really become involved and it's setting the right bylaws," he explained. "For me personally and I believe it's the same for the council is, we don't want to see these retail businesses close to schools. We don't want to see them close to where young people will be nearby them."

It was announced earlier this year by the province that roughly 60 marijuana retail outlets will receive permits across Saskatchewan, with the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) regulating the wholesaling and retailing.

"It shouldn't be in residential areas, it should be in a retail setting," Perrault added.

The next meeting for Swift Current City Council is scheduled for February 26 and Perrault said he's going to ask to have marijuana listed on the council's docket.