Dewey Beach votes to ban marijuana growth and sale

DEWEY BEACH, Del., – The Town of Dewey Beach met Friday, to vote to amend chapter 117-2, measuring how marijuana should be regulated within the town limits.

Dewey Beach Commissioner Paul Bauer says several residents have spoken out against the growth, sale and use of recreational marijuana within town limits.

“Obviously, it became legal in Delaware a short while ago and that’s a state law, but the municipalities control the businesses they like in town.”

Friday’s council meeting will start the discussion on whether or not the drug’s sale and growth will be banned.

“A lot of the residents came to us about some people who don’t want it right next to them and those kinds of things.”

Dewey Beach relies on tourism dollars. Commissioner Bauer says that ten to twenty years ago, the town had a reputation for being more of a party town, but over the last five to ten years it has tailored to families and friends out of the area for fun and safe vacations.

“Besides us, Bethany, Fenwick and a lot of the other municipalities are looking the same way.”

Commissioner Bauer says he supports state law, but his personal opinion is to ban the growth and sale of the substance in the town.

“If I had to vote right now without having to hear any other feedback outside of what I’ve heard, I’m voting to keep it and I’d rather have it outside of city limits than inside,” Bauer said. “We don’t have a lot of farm land here in Dewey beach to grow stuff.”

wAhead of the council meeting, Bauer says he’s confident his colleagues will be in favor of a ban.

“I think they are probably going to lean my way on it, but again that’s why we have public meetings and public input and we will see what today’s meeting brings,” Bauer said. “We may have hundreds of people speaking in favor of it, or we may have none.”

The vote passed unanimously, five to zero.