Jefferson City continues medical marijuana zoning conversations
Jefferson City Council heard recommendations for zoning medical marijuana facilities Monday evening.
Amendment 2 legalized medical marijuana in Missouri and was approved in November 2018.
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommends the city zone medical marijuana transportation facilities, which deliver medicinal marijuana to patients and other medical facilities, in industrial districts.
City staff had zoned dispensaries in the C-2 district, areas used for retails spaces such as pharmacies and liquor stores.
“The commission heard one person comment that it maybe too restrictive,” said Director of Planning and Protective Services Sonny Sanders.
He said after discussion, the commission is recommending the city allow dispensaries to open in C-1 and C-2 districts. The C-1 district includes areas zoned for offices, restaurants and grocery stores.
“With the zoning, we need to get done so that we can offer businesses the opportunity to decide where they want to locate and part of their application process,” he said.
The city is planning to follow the state zoning guidelines, which require a municipality to not zone a facility within 1,000 feet of a school, day care center or church.
On May 20, the council approved regulations for cultivation, processing and testing facilities.
The council will hold a public hearing and vote on the commission’s zoning recommendations for transportation facilities and dispensaries July 15.
