Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
A zoning change approved by the county's planning and zoning committee Wednesday removes one of the hurdles for a company that wants to operate a medical marijuana dispensary across from Bowie Town Center.
The committee approved legislation introduced by County Council member Todd Turner (District 4) that would permit such a facility to locate in an area zone as a Major Activity Center (M-A-C). The Bowie Town Center area is zoned M-A-C.
A minority-owned, National Harbor-based company, the SENTEL Group LLC, seeks to locate its state-approved medical marijuana dispensary in the office building at 4201 Northview Dr.
The SENTEL subsidiary that would operate the dispensary, TSG Organics, is applying for cultivation and processing licenses for its product in Pennsylvania.
The zoning change still must be approved by the County Council, which sits as the District Council in matters of planning and zoning.
Approval of the dispensary could still be problematic because current county law doesn't allow for a medical marijuana dispensary within 500 feet of several kinds of residential zones. The office building where the planned dispensary would go sits within 350 feet of a residential area.
"We are looking at this as a step-by-step process," said Bridgit Spruill, an executive with SENTEL. "Once we overcome one hurdle, we're looking to overcome the next. It (the distance requirement) is an issue, but we are addressing what we do next."
Time is also an issue. The state announced the award of preliminary licenses last December. Those awarded those licenses have 12 months to get their businesses up and running, and additional approval from the county and state is still needed before SENTEL/TSG could open for business.
"That's the deadline we're working toward," she said.
After prolonged debate on Monday night, the Bowie City Council voted not to take a position on the legislation and thus made no recommendation to the county planning committee.
Initially, the City Council was deadlocked at three votes each on whether recommend passage of the the legislation. Council member Diane Polangin (District 2) was absent, which accounted for the deadlock.
Ultimately, the council voted to make no formal recommendation on the legislation.
"The position is that we have no position," said Bowie Mayor G. Frederick Robinson. "What the proposal (would do) is to amend the zoning to allow this use. It's well within the county's (authority) to do that. The county asked us for a recommendation about whether they should do it or not and we said, 'It's up to you.' "
There is evidence that suggests marijuana can reduce nausea in patients during chemotherapy, improve appetite in people with HIV/AIDS, and reduce chronic pain and muscle spasms.
The County Council passed a law last spring defining medical marijuana uses in the zoning laws for the first time and permitting certain types of facilities in certain zoning areas under certain circumstances. However, the M-A-C zone was not one of those approved areas.
The city's planning staff recommended the council support permitting the dispensary. In the staff's view, the dispensary would operate much like a doctor's office or a pharmacy – two uses that are permitted in the current zoning.
"As they've described how they're going to run their operation to us ... it's just going to be like going into a doctor's office, or going into a lab," said Joe Meinert, the city's planning and zoning director.
Bowie Police Chief John Nesky, in response to a question from the council, said statistics don't indicate any particular increase in crime around such facilities.
"I looked at a lot of data. I looked at a lot of studies," he said. "There's no data that directs me one way or the other ... I don't know if the Town Center (area) is the best place for it, but that's just my personal opinion."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Law could clear way for medical marijuana dispensary in Bowie - Bowie Blade-News
Author: John McNamara
Contact: Contact Us - Capital Gazette
Photo Credit: John McNamara
Website: Home - Capital Gazette
The committee approved legislation introduced by County Council member Todd Turner (District 4) that would permit such a facility to locate in an area zone as a Major Activity Center (M-A-C). The Bowie Town Center area is zoned M-A-C.
A minority-owned, National Harbor-based company, the SENTEL Group LLC, seeks to locate its state-approved medical marijuana dispensary in the office building at 4201 Northview Dr.
The SENTEL subsidiary that would operate the dispensary, TSG Organics, is applying for cultivation and processing licenses for its product in Pennsylvania.
The zoning change still must be approved by the County Council, which sits as the District Council in matters of planning and zoning.
Approval of the dispensary could still be problematic because current county law doesn't allow for a medical marijuana dispensary within 500 feet of several kinds of residential zones. The office building where the planned dispensary would go sits within 350 feet of a residential area.
"We are looking at this as a step-by-step process," said Bridgit Spruill, an executive with SENTEL. "Once we overcome one hurdle, we're looking to overcome the next. It (the distance requirement) is an issue, but we are addressing what we do next."
Time is also an issue. The state announced the award of preliminary licenses last December. Those awarded those licenses have 12 months to get their businesses up and running, and additional approval from the county and state is still needed before SENTEL/TSG could open for business.
"That's the deadline we're working toward," she said.
After prolonged debate on Monday night, the Bowie City Council voted not to take a position on the legislation and thus made no recommendation to the county planning committee.
Initially, the City Council was deadlocked at three votes each on whether recommend passage of the the legislation. Council member Diane Polangin (District 2) was absent, which accounted for the deadlock.
Ultimately, the council voted to make no formal recommendation on the legislation.
"The position is that we have no position," said Bowie Mayor G. Frederick Robinson. "What the proposal (would do) is to amend the zoning to allow this use. It's well within the county's (authority) to do that. The county asked us for a recommendation about whether they should do it or not and we said, 'It's up to you.' "
There is evidence that suggests marijuana can reduce nausea in patients during chemotherapy, improve appetite in people with HIV/AIDS, and reduce chronic pain and muscle spasms.
The County Council passed a law last spring defining medical marijuana uses in the zoning laws for the first time and permitting certain types of facilities in certain zoning areas under certain circumstances. However, the M-A-C zone was not one of those approved areas.
The city's planning staff recommended the council support permitting the dispensary. In the staff's view, the dispensary would operate much like a doctor's office or a pharmacy – two uses that are permitted in the current zoning.
"As they've described how they're going to run their operation to us ... it's just going to be like going into a doctor's office, or going into a lab," said Joe Meinert, the city's planning and zoning director.
Bowie Police Chief John Nesky, in response to a question from the council, said statistics don't indicate any particular increase in crime around such facilities.
"I looked at a lot of data. I looked at a lot of studies," he said. "There's no data that directs me one way or the other ... I don't know if the Town Center (area) is the best place for it, but that's just my personal opinion."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Law could clear way for medical marijuana dispensary in Bowie - Bowie Blade-News
Author: John McNamara
Contact: Contact Us - Capital Gazette
Photo Credit: John McNamara
Website: Home - Capital Gazette