The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that with less than a week to go before the first licensed cannabis stores open in Ontario, unlicensed dispensaries throughout Toronto are not backing down. The Globe's guest columnist Victoria Gibson writes that the owners of some illegal dispensaries say they are determined to dig in their heels, convinced that the province will eventually see the industry from their perspective and welcome them into the licensed market. Eliminating the black market for weed was a key goal of the federal government when it forged ahead with the legalization of recreational cannabis. The number of unlicensed cannabis stores in Toronto has fluctuated over the past five months -- on legalization day, 36 were found to be operating. By January, that number had dwindled to about 12 or 13 consistently open, according to Mark Sraga, director of investigation services with Toronto's Municipal Licensing and Standards. However, after the government announced its "lottery" system, he said, it saw a surge in unlicensed businesses operating within the city. Its most recent intelligence counts 29. One observer says Canada should embrace "the forces that brought about legalization."