Lawmakers and community members concerned about marijuana zoning

Md. – Maryland Lawmakers introducing legislation, addressing concerns on the zoning for the sale of adult use marijuana.

Senate Bill 537 and House Bill 805 call for cannabis dispensaries to be treated as any other typical retail establishment.

Lawmakers tell me that after the legalization of adult use marijuana, the biggest question that remained was how are dispensaries going to operate and function, but this has left some community members concerned with where these dispensaries will be built, and if they’d be located near other establishments, like smoke shops and liquor stores.

“You can easily get high and drunk altogether.”

“There would be loads of convenience, but I mean at what cost.”

SB 537 and HB 805 specifically address the restrictions of license locations for cannabis dispensaries within city and county limits.

“So, you have retail operations and then you got dispensaries and they want dispensaries treated the same as retail operations.”

However, some lawmakers say this is fueling concerns of community members having too many legal vices in one area and locals share some of those worries.

“I do not see it heading in a good direction,” community member said. “I mean by that point, we might as well have casinos next to them as well.”

“I just think that Maryland is better than that.”

The bills come after several local government zoning ordinances have already been set up, since last year’s legalization of recreational marijuana.

“The legislation that was passed intended to give locals authority to reasonably regulate dispensaries and the legislation that is being introduced because the sponsor feels that some of the local governments have implemented zoning regulations that were unreasonable.”

Another concern, State Senator Johnny Mautz says previous marijuana laws have not given cannabis dispensary owners an avenue to challenge or protest any zoning regulations.

“I would see that to be problematic, I think there will be a lot of opposition,” Senator Mautz. “I think most local governments are going to treat these entities differently than any other normal retail operation.”

Senator Mautz remains doubtful that those who voted to legalize recreational marijuana would also vote for these bills.

The senator also told us that lawmakers will likely have a hard time seeing marijuana dispensaries as comparable to other retailers, both the house and senate bills currently sit in committee.