County officials want control over marijuana

BENTONVILLE — At least two Benton County justices of the peace want the Quorum Court to have some control over medical marijuana cultivation facilities that might locate in the county.

Brent Meyers, justice of the peace for District 14, raised the issue at the end of Thursday’s regular meeting. Meyers noted the Planning Board reviewed a proposal for such a facility near Gentry and set a Sept. 6 public hearing on the plan.

“I think the Planning Commission is jumping ahead of itself,” Meyers said. “The state hasn’t come up with anything yet and the feds still say it’s illegal. So we’re going to have a place in Gentry that’s growing an illegal crop. I think the county judge should look at that.”

After County Judge Barry Moehring told Meyers he would look into the issue, Pat Adams, justice of the peace for District 6, said the Quorum Court has some say in the matter through its control over the Planning Commission.

“We can call the Planning Commission before the court if we feel there are some changes that need to be made,” Adams said.

Susan Anglin, justice of the peace for District 9, said she attended a workshop on the medical marijuana question put on by the Association of Arkansas Counties and was told counties have no control over the permitting and operation of the facilities. Anglin said the state has adopted rules and regulations and set up governing bodies that have authority over the cultivation facilities.

“The Quorum Court can’t interfere,” Anglin said.

George Spence, county attorney, said the system of medical marijuana cultivation and dispensaries was approved by voters statewide. If federal authorities choose to, they can try to intervene, Spence said.

“Our planning board doesn’t need to be in the business of running the medical marijuana growing business,” Spence said.