Recently, the Prince George's County Council introduced an ordinance, CB-041-2021, which aims to change the boundaries of properties used as medical cannabis dispensaries. A medical cannabis dispensary is a facility where medical cannabis, products, or devices for the use of medical cannabis are sold. Medical cannabis is one of the fastest growing industries in the country. A recent conducted by BDS Analytics, Inc. found that in 2020 legal cannabis sales in the United States passed $17.5 billion, which was a growth of 46% from 2019’ which saw $12.1 billion in legal cannabis sales revenue. The Baltimore Business Journal recently reported that in Maryland alone there was $115 million in increased cannabis sales from 2019.
Enacting this ordinance in Prince George's County would:
Eliminate the one-mile criteria around the Metro Line stations
Retain at least 500 feet (establishes the boundaries) from any residential area
Maintain 500 feet from any recreation center, playground, trial owned by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
Maintain at least 500 feet from any school land uses
Retain the one-mile criteria from at least one mile from any other medical cannabis dispensary use.
Eliminate the medical cannabis dispensary being located within 500 feet of a medical facility.
Mandate that the minimum parking requirements for a medical cannabis dispensary be at least equivalent to the minimum parking requirements for a medical practitioner's office/medical clinic.
Clarify that a medical cannabis dispensary is not permitted as an accessory use.
Outdoor signage shall be limited to building-mounted signs, and advertisement for cannabis or cannabis products is prohibited.
Mandates that the minimum lot area shall be 10 acres and everything else is pretty much the same with 300 feet from any R-A, R-E, R-L, R-R, R-S, R-80, or R-55 Zone." (See Division. 2-Specific Residential Zones for a complete list with definitions)
This ordinance is on its third reading and had a public hearing on September 8th, meaning it is near the end of the legislative process. If you would like more information on this ordinance contact the Council Chair Hawkins' Office at 301-952-2508 or via email at At-LargeMemberHawkins@co.pg.md.us.