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    • Wilmington council member proposes moratorium on legal weed sales
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    Wilmington council member proposes moratorium on legal weed sales

    Harry Posted on

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    • Wilmington City Councilman Nathan Field has proposed a moratorium on opening recreational marijuana stores within the city.
    • Wilmington Councilman Chris Johnson also introduced a resolution that would impose fines on those caught smoking pot in public spaces or in moving vehicles.
    • The proposals come as the legislature continues to debate how to regulate the legal sector, which is scheduled to become operational in the spring of next year.

    Some of Wilmington’s elected leaders want to place a moratorium on the opening of recreational marijuana stores, believing the city is rushing the process of determining how the legal recreational industry should operate in Delaware’s largest city.

    A resolution introduced by Wilmington City Councilman Nathan Field and co-sponsored by council President Ernest “Trippi” Kongo and Councilman James Spadola places a moratorium on the operations of retail cannabis stores until January 15, 2025, or until “legislation is passed” on the issue. will put it. .

    The proposal comes as the legislature considers its options for regulating the recreational marijuana industry, which was legalized in the First State in April 2023 after extensive debate and previous failed attempts.

    is a source of back and forth contention Among city council members, some say the process was rushed, while others think elected leaders should have already communicated with their constituents about the issue.

    The current proposal to regulate the legal industry includes a 100-foot buffer zone around K-12 schools and residential areas and doubles the radius buffer between the same type of marijuana business to nearly half a mile.

    PREVIOUS SPEECHES: Delaware marijuana commissioner says he won’t ‘walk slowly’ process for unprepared Wilmington

    But council members have yet to act on the plan. The Council’s Community Planning and Urban Development Committee will meet again on Thursday, November 14 and discuss the development plan at a later date. If the committee takes action next week, the resolution would still need to be presented to the full council for a final vote.

    The proposed moratorium on retail stores could also be discussed at next week’s committee meeting, as it was handed over to that committee at the council’s regular meeting on Thursday.

    Additional cannabis regulations

    In response to public complaints about people smoking marijuana in public, a resolution sponsored by Council Member Chris Johnson imposes penalties for people caught smoking in public or in a car.

    ZONING PROPOSAL: Wilmington planning committee is reinstating the old buffer for legal weed businesses. what’s next

    Although consuming marijuana products in public remains illegal throughout Delaware, law enforcement generally does little to address the problem.

    legislation Makes public consumption of marijuana in public places or in a moving vehicle a misdemeanor crime subject to a fine of not more than $500. The proposal defines public spaces as 10-foot distances from sidewalks, parks, parking lots and even entrances and exits of private buildings.

    Got a clue? Contact Amanda Fries at [email protected]. Follow her on X at @mandy_fries.

    Harry
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