Horn Lake approves medical marijuana zoning plan
Medical marijuana is one step closer to coming to Horn Lake.
The Horn Lake Board of Alderman on Tuesday night approved a plan that zones parts of the city to allow medical marijuana dispensaries. Any growing, transportation or research operations will continue to be prohibited in Horn Lake.
Last year, Mississippi became the 37th state to legalize medical marijuana and cities and counties across the state had until early May 2022 to vote on whether they wanted to allow certain medical marijuana-related businesses to operate in their communities. Olive Branch and Hernando both opted in in April 2022 and unincorporated DeSoto County opted in in May 2022. In October, Southaven approved its own zoning plan for medical marijuana.
More:Parents in DeSoto County 'wait impatiently' for legalized medical marijuana for their kids
Horn Lake initially opted out in to give officials more time to study the law and formed a committee to draft a set of proposed regulations to recommend to the board for approval. The committee's recommendations and the planning commission's recommendations clashed during the Feb. 21 Board of Alderman meeting.
The committee proposed allowing dispensaries in C-4 zoning east of Highway 301, north of Nail Road West except south of Nail Road West east of Highway 51 and west of Interstate 55 and north of Goodman Road. The committee also recommended that dispensaries be not placed within 1,700 feet of a church, school, daycare, or any other permitted dispensary.
The planning commission recommended that dispensaries be no closer than 1,000 feet to churches and religious institutions, schools, and daycare centers, adhering to minimum requirements set forth in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, and opened up additional areas of the city to possible dispensaries in areas zoned for office and C1, C2, C3 and C4.
The board took no action at the Feb. 21 meeting.
The zoning ordinance approved at the March 7 meeting will be limited to commercial parcels with frontage on Goodman Road, US Highway 51, Nail Road east of US Highway 51, Interstate Blvd and Dancy Blvd east of its intersection with Pasadena Drive and includes the 1,700-feet regulation. It was approved six to one with Ward 6 Alderman Robby Dupree the only no vote.
The ordinance will go into effect in one month, on April 7. City Attorney Billy Campbell said he anticipates having a resolution at the next board meeting to opt into the medical cannabis portion of the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act, effective April 7.
Gina Butkovich covers DeSoto County, storytelling and general news. She can be reached at 901/232-6714.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Horn Lake approves medical marijuana zoning plan
