Skip to content
NOWCAST WBAL-TV 11 News at 6pm
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Baltimore County approves zoning rules for medical marijuana

Dispensaries must be 500 feet away from schools

Advertisement
Baltimore County approves zoning rules for medical marijuana
Dispensaries must be 500 feet away from schools
Baltimore County is the first jurisdiction in Maryland to put zoning rules in place for medical marijuana, even before licenses have been issued.Since state lawmakers made it legal to sell medical marijuana, it's now up to the individual counties to come up with zoning areas for medical marijuana growers, manufacturers and dispensaries.According to the new rules set Tuesday night, busy corridors, like York Road, and not-so-traveled areas, like Allegheny Avenue, could be prime spots for medical pot shops."We decided that we needed to do something to give certainty to residents, people who want to do business. We wanted to be proactive," said Baltimore County Councilwoman Vicki Almond, D-District 2.Almond spearheaded the bipartisan bill, which passed unanimously Tuesday night.Almond said growing and manufacturing facilities would be limited to industrial areas around the county with dispensaries located in business districts, like along York, Liberty and Reisterstown roads. Dispensers can also locate in commercial revitalization districts, like historic Reisterstown, but need special exemptions."The medical cannabis people, the commission wanted them to be on main roads so people could have easy access to them who needed them, and the whole point is to make sure it's available for people who need it for health reasons," Almond said.Barbara Burdette, who has owned the Elephant's Trunk consignment shop in historic Reisterstown for five years, said any successful business would be welcome on Main Street."I don't have a problem with it as long as it's for medical reasons. It's going to be restricted in some measure, so if it brings more business, that's great," Burdette said.Residents who live nearby, like Calvin Marcus, said they worry about people abusing the system."I strongly disagree with that, because I don't think it meshes well with the normal vibe around here right now. This is a historic neighborhood, and I think it would probably tarnish the image of Reisterstown," Marcus said.The dispensaries must also be 500 feet from schools, not only to protect children now, but also if recreational use becomes legal down the road.Licenses will be tough to get as well. There will be 15 available for manufacturing and 15 for processing in Baltimore County."There are two licenses per Senate district, so we're not talking about being inundated with dispensaries, but I think where we decided they should go gives them options, and it gives the community some certainty of where they're going to be," Almond said.So far, no licenses have been issued anywhere in the state, let alone Baltimore County. It's unclear when marijuana could be grown in Maryland and hitting the shelves of an actual medical marijuana pharmacy.

Baltimore County is the first jurisdiction in Maryland to put zoning rules in place for medical marijuana, even before licenses have been issued.

Since state lawmakers made it legal to sell medical marijuana, it's now up to the individual counties to come up with zoning areas for medical marijuana growers, manufacturers and dispensaries.

Advertisement

Related Content

According to the new rules set Tuesday night, busy corridors, like York Road, and not-so-traveled areas, like Allegheny Avenue, could be prime spots for medical pot shops.

"We decided that we needed to do something to give certainty to residents, people who want to do business. We wanted to be proactive," said Baltimore County Councilwoman Vicki Almond, D-District 2.

Almond spearheaded the bipartisan bill, which passed unanimously Tuesday night.

Almond said growing and manufacturing facilities would be limited to industrial areas around the county with dispensaries located in business districts, like along York, Liberty and Reisterstown roads. Dispensers can also locate in commercial revitalization districts, like historic Reisterstown, but need special exemptions.

"The medical cannabis people, the commission wanted them to be on main roads so people could have easy access to them who needed them, and the whole point is to make sure it's available for people who need it for health reasons," Almond said.

Barbara Burdette, who has owned the Elephant's Trunk consignment shop in historic Reisterstown for five years, said any successful business would be welcome on Main Street.

"I don't have a problem with it as long as it's for medical reasons. It's going to be restricted in some measure, so if it brings more business, that's great," Burdette said.

Residents who live nearby, like Calvin Marcus, said they worry about people abusing the system.

"I strongly disagree with that, because I don't think it meshes well with the normal vibe around here right now. This is a historic neighborhood, and I think it would probably tarnish the image of Reisterstown," Marcus said.

The dispensaries must also be 500 feet from schools, not only to protect children now, but also if recreational use becomes legal down the road.

Licenses will be tough to get as well. There will be 15 available for manufacturing and 15 for processing in Baltimore County.

"There are two licenses per Senate district, so we're not talking about being inundated with dispensaries, but I think where we decided they should go gives them options, and it gives the community some certainty of where they're going to be," Almond said.

So far, no licenses have been issued anywhere in the state, let alone Baltimore County. It's unclear when marijuana could be grown in Maryland and hitting the shelves of an actual medical marijuana pharmacy.