Medical cannabis

City Ordinance O-4-21, “Medical Cannabis”, is scheduled to appear on the Planning Commission’s agenda on March

18. A Joint Meeting of the Council’s Public Safety, and Rules and City Government Committees, is scheduled at 4 p.m. April 5, with O-4-21 on the agenda.

Anne Arundel Community College Professor Shad Ewart has been invited to speak before this Joint Meeting. This Joint Meeting could be continued to April

6.

According to his college bio: “Professor Ewart has been responsible for the design and developments of the first course to explore the entrepreneurial opportunities created by the legalization of cannabis for medical use in the state of Maryland. A number of students who have successfully completed the course have already found employment in the industry, have started their own businesses and in one case, own a dispensary. He is currently developing the first college credit program for those interested in entry level jobs in the cannabis industry.”

At least one public hearing will be scheduled prior to a final vote on O-4-21. The city staff report states: “This legislation allows the use ‘Medical Cannabis Dispensaries’ throughout the City, in the same locations as traditional ‘Drugstores,’ which are part of the category called “Personal Care Establishments.”

“This new use would be a permitted use in all commercial, industrial, and mixed-use districts except for C2P. In the P District, the use is a special exception use.”

Arguably, every city ward could be affected by the passage of O-4-21 — whether by boundary or proximity.

Alderwoman Rhonda Pindell Charles, Annapolis