Jacob Bell
New Member
FARMINGTON – The City Council soon will consider restricting medical marijuana growers to industrial areas.
The city's Planning and Zoning Commission recommended a plan Thursday to restrict medical marijuana producers to areas zoned as industrial. The City Council likely will take up the recommendation at its March 8 meeting.
The proposal also would prohibit medical marijuana producers from operating within 300 feet of schools, churches, day care centers, youth facilities, parks, recreation facilities or residential districts.
Growers in New Mexico must be licensed as nonprofit businesses in accordance with state law. Farmington is not allowed to prohibit licensed producers from operating in the city.
Producers under state law are prohibited from using signs to advertise their businesses.
While Farmington can do little to keep medical marijuana out of the city, that hasn't kept city officials from exploring their options
"It's not a situation where we can opt out of it," said Mary Holton, director of the city's Community Development department. "As far as our authority, we do have zoning authority."
At a Feb. 10 meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission, commissioner John Byrom said that in his experience, numerous restrictions can be added to prevent something from happening. Byrom asked if more restrictions could be added, according to meeting minutes.
Byrom did not return messages left at his office. Farmington has numerous areas zoned as industrial. Some examples include near east Main Street and Rowe Avenue, east Main Street and Gila Street, south of Piñon Hills Boulevard and east of Hilltop Court, near Gateway Museum and Visitor Center, and near Berg Park.
Cosme D. Ripol, a Farmington attorney who is active in medical marijuana issues, said the city is entering uncharted legal territory.
"This is a brand-new area of the law, and it's an unexplored area," he said. "No one knows what the answer is."
News Hawk- GuitarMan313 420 MAGAZINE
Source: daily-times.com
Author: Chuck Slothower
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Media News group
Website: City wants to zone growers
The city's Planning and Zoning Commission recommended a plan Thursday to restrict medical marijuana producers to areas zoned as industrial. The City Council likely will take up the recommendation at its March 8 meeting.
The proposal also would prohibit medical marijuana producers from operating within 300 feet of schools, churches, day care centers, youth facilities, parks, recreation facilities or residential districts.
Growers in New Mexico must be licensed as nonprofit businesses in accordance with state law. Farmington is not allowed to prohibit licensed producers from operating in the city.
Producers under state law are prohibited from using signs to advertise their businesses.
While Farmington can do little to keep medical marijuana out of the city, that hasn't kept city officials from exploring their options
"It's not a situation where we can opt out of it," said Mary Holton, director of the city's Community Development department. "As far as our authority, we do have zoning authority."
At a Feb. 10 meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission, commissioner John Byrom said that in his experience, numerous restrictions can be added to prevent something from happening. Byrom asked if more restrictions could be added, according to meeting minutes.
Byrom did not return messages left at his office. Farmington has numerous areas zoned as industrial. Some examples include near east Main Street and Rowe Avenue, east Main Street and Gila Street, south of Piñon Hills Boulevard and east of Hilltop Court, near Gateway Museum and Visitor Center, and near Berg Park.
Cosme D. Ripol, a Farmington attorney who is active in medical marijuana issues, said the city is entering uncharted legal territory.
"This is a brand-new area of the law, and it's an unexplored area," he said. "No one knows what the answer is."
News Hawk- GuitarMan313 420 MAGAZINE
Source: daily-times.com
Author: Chuck Slothower
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Media News group
Website: City wants to zone growers
