Wilmington City Council approves its plan for allowing recreational marijuana operations in the city.
The ordinance passed by Council limits the cultivation, manufacture, testing and retail sales of recreational marijuana business to certain commercial, manufacturing and waterfront zoning districts largely on the city’s east side.
Facilities for marijuana cultivation, manufacturing, testing, and retail stores will be permitted in C-5, M-1, M-2, W-1, W-2, and W-3 zones.
Those areas are primarily heavy commercial, light manufacturing, general industrial, waterfront manufacturing, waterfront manufacturing and commercial and waterfront low intensity manufacturing and commercial recreation districts.
Marijuana testing facilities and retail stores will be permitted as special exception uses in the W-4 district or waterfront residential and commercial districts.
Councilman Chris Johnson sponsored the ordinance, but admits it’s not perfect.
“I believe it shifts everything to the Riverfront, everything to one area. I’m for opportunity in all neighborhoods in the city, but this is obviously a legislative body and through the legislative process talking to my colleagues, this was the map that would pass,” said Johnson. “But frankly, I’d see it as a beginning.”
The legislation also required a 300-foot buffer zone between any permitted marijuana operations and residential zones and public and private K-12 schools.
“We talk about innovation in spurring economic activity. This is just that. This frankly should have passed probably two years ago, but there have been some delays at the state level. Obviously to the federal level, but this needs to happen in Wilmington. This has been too long. This is a great first step,” said Johnson.
Council also passed a resolution urging the General Assembly to allow the city to impose a tax of up to 3% on the sale of marijuana and marijuana products in the city.
Wilmington City Council approves its plan for allowing recreational marijuana operations in the city. Read More
