NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO — If New York wants an example of how the newly-approved legalization of marijuana could go over the next few years, it may look just across the border to Canada, which took the step in the fall of 2018.

Niagara Falls, Ontario Mayor Jim Diodati said the controversy that surrounded cannabis then is an afterthought now.

"There was all the hype, the doom and gloom, the sky is going to fall and the city is going to hell in a hand basket, and that is not at all what happened," he said.

Diodati said the first few dispensaries that opened in his city were a big deal. In contrast, two days ago he cut ribbons on three new facilities to little fanfare.

"Now it's a non-event," Diodati said. "I mean it's like, OK, on to the next one. People go in there very casually as if and no different than if they were going to go into any other store to buy any other item."

The mayor said there are some issues with people who are driving under the influence, but points out people were smoking and driving even before Canada legalized marijuana.

"The police have always been aware of it," he said. "I think it's more front of mind these days than it used to be, and it's something that we just learn to deal with and to cope with."

Diodati said prior to the U.S.-Canada border closing roughly a year ago because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans were crossing the border for the experience. However, he doesn't believe New York's new laws will have a big effect on the Niagara Falls economy.

"I don't know that we have a lot of people coming over just specifically for that one thing," Diodati said. "Certainly, there are some but I think a lot of people it's one part of the whole overall experience they've come to look for."

The mayor said even when people can buy cannabis in Western New York, he believes they'll still come over the border. He pointed out the region already has restaurants and casinos, but Western New Yorkers still frequent Niagara Fall's businesses.

Diodati also noted it will still be illegal to bring marijuana across the border even though it is legal in both New York and Canada.