City ordinances may be amended to allow retail sales of medical marijuana. Photo: Pixabay
By Renée Morin
The City Council delayed its decision to introduce a license for medical marijuana dispensaries in Sanford-Springvale at its meeting earlier this month.
Director of Codes and Planning Jamie Cole told the council that due to the procedures and hearings that would be required to amend the ordinances, there is not enough time to make a change in advance of a federal registration deadline on June 22 for such licenses. He thanked the marijuana industry’s offer of assistance with the ordinance but said that city government needs to be involved in the planning as well. Cole said that the city needs to “do this once and do this right.”
The council delayed the vote on the matter and instead voted to collaborate with local cannabis growers on a draft amendment that would be explicit on the proposed changes, citing a lack of clarity in the current proposed changes.
The city provides licenses for cultivation, recreational retail and manufacturing of marijuana but not for retail sales of medical marijuana. If medical marijuana dispensaries are added as a category, there will likely be a broad impact on the city’s overall marijuana policy.
Mayor Becky Brink said that she received almost 400 emails, which were largely opposed to the proposed amendments. Several individuals who work within Sanford’s marijuana industry spoke at the meeting both for and against the amendments.
Elizabeth Baldacci, owner of Blossom Cannabis/Stache Cannabis, spoke in favor of the changes. She says that as a company rather than an individual provider, the only license she can use is a registered dispensary license.
Issac Ellowitz, owner of Mill 72, a marijuana cultivation company on Emery Street, said that the marijuana industry should figure out what they need instead of relying on the city to do it for them. “The industry in Sanford is mature enough to bring to the city the finished product of what they believe the changes are, and not [to] just throw this on the city’s plate.”
He suggested the city abstain from changing anything until the marijuana industry can figure out exactly what limited changes need to be done to keep in place what is already here, and to not burden the city government with figuring it out.
Deputy Mayor Maura Herlihy said that individuals interested in marijuana zoning regulations should participate in the upcoming public meetings to develop the comprehensive plan.
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