Public hearing on recreational cannabis sales in Carroll set for next week
A public hearing on proposed regulations that will allow for the sale of recreational cannabis in Carroll County is set for March 7.
The Board of Carroll County Commissioners voted at their meeting in January to direct planning staff to schedule a public hearing on proposed changes to the county code that would regulate the sale of recreational cannabis.
According to the Maryland Cannabis Administration, there are two cannabis dispensaries in Carroll County, The Dispensary and Verilife Dispensary, both in Westminster. Both are under the city’s, not the county’s, jurisdiction.
As of July 1, 2023, individuals 21 and older can legally use, possess and consume up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis flower, 12 grams of concentrated cannabis, or a total amount of cannabis products that does not exceed 750 mg of THC in Maryland. This amount is known as the “personal use amount.”
In April, Carroll’s commissioners voted to refer decisions about when, where, and how cannabis-related businesses can operate to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The commissioners said at the time that the vote was made “under protest,” because they did not support the legalization of marijuana.
The planning commission discussed the issue July 18 and Oct. 17, and voted to recommend changes to the county’s code that would essentially replace regulations already established for the sale of medical cannabis.
The proposed ordinance would include changes in language to reflect compliance with the state law regarding the recreational adult use of cannabis.
The county zoning code has regulations in place for the growing, processing, or dispensing of medical cannabis. A medical cannabis shop must be located 400 feet from a residence. The proposed change would increase the distance of a recreational shop to 500 feet from a residence. It would also include schools, day care facilities, playgrounds, libraries and recreation centers. A cannabis shop could not be within 1,000 feet of another marijuana dispensary, grower and/or processor. Christmas tree stands and pumpkin patches could not also sell cannabis products.
Commissioners could make amendments to the proposed legislation based upon the comments received at the public hearing, a county email states.
Though commissioners have said they do not support recreational marijuana, they realize that regulations need to be enacted in Carroll County. That is because the county code currently does not include regulations for recreational cannabis.
If an adult-use distributor wanted to obtain a license to open a shop in the county, they would instead be given a general retail license, Christopher Heyn, director of the county’s Department of Planning and Land Management said at the January meeting.
A general retail license does not include regulations for recreational marijuana.
The commissioners meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., March 7, in Room 311 of the County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., in Westminster. The meeting will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@CarrollCountyGov.
Anyone can make public comment at the meeting, in person or online. Those wishing to attend online should call 872-240-3212 and enter access code 317-923-893 to join the meeting.