The Englewood City Council voted March 17 to approve an amendment to the proposed moratorium on medical marijuana grow and manufacturing facilities in the city for the next six months to include new medical marijuana sales centers.
At the March 17 meeting, the council considered the moratorium banning the establishment of new medical marijuana grow and manufacturing facilities for the next six months on second and final reading. Since the proposal was drafted as an emergency ordinance, it becomes law the day it is passed instead of the normal process of not being effective until 30 days after passage.
During the discussion of the moratorium, Councilmember Jill Wilson proposed amending the ordinance to include prohibiting the establishment of additional medical marijuana centers.
Dan Brotzman, city attorney, said if the council approved the amended ordinance establishing the moratorium on establishing new medical marijuana grow and manufacturing facilities, the law would immediately go into effect.
He added that the council would then have to consider the amended ordinance that includes a ban on medical marijuana sale centers on second and final reading at the next city council meeting on April 7. It still would be an emergency ordinance and would be effective the day it was passed.
Two years ago, the city regulations set the distance medical marijuana facilities must be from each other and from schools and parks. Those restrictions leave only a few areas in Englewood where medical marijuana businesses can operate.
Earlier this year, an applicant received a city license to establish a medical marijuana grow facility in the area zoned industrial in the 4600 block of South Windermere Street. The Medical Marijuana and Liquor Licensing Authority two weeks later turned down an application to establish a medical marijuana grow and manufacturing facility just south of Oxford Avenue on South Navajo Street. The authority cited a lack of knowledge and information about the industry among the reason for not approving the license application.
Recently, there have been three inquiries about seeking licenses for medical marijuana sales centers in permitted areas.
Brotzman said the moratorium on centers would not be in place, so it would not apply to individuals who have submitted applications for center licenses but also would not permit additional center applications.
“I will not support either version of the moratorium,” Councilmember Joe Jefferson said. “I feel it is just a way to revisit the issue of not allowing marijuana facilities in the city despite the fact residents have twice voted in support of having the facilities in Englewood.”
Mayor Randy Penn said he didn’t agree with the moratorium.
“I feel it is a step backwards,” he said. “But we have to change what we do about the marijuana industry and I just want us to make sure we take time to make the right changes.”
Councilmember Steve Yates said he would vote against the amendment including centers in the moratorium, but would vote to approve the moratorium on medical marijuana grow and manufacturing facilities.
“We also need to address the issue of retail marijuana facilities in the city,” he said. “I feel we need to have something figured out before the moratorium expires.”
The amendment to include medical marijuana retail centers in the moratorium passed 5-2, with Jefferson and Yates voting against it. Those approving the amendment were Penn, Mayor Pro Tem Linda Olson and Councilmembers Bob McCaslin, Jill Wilson and Rick Gillit.
The next vote was on the ordinance including the amendment, which passed 6-1. Jefferson cast the only no vote.