Marijuana and judge's gavel. Photo from GDNS.
SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO.com) – If it’s Tuesday, it must be marijuana. At least that’s been the agenda for the City Council recently.
Tonight’s agenda brought final action on two ordinances for regulating medical marijuana in the city of Sioux Falls.
The first ordinance to pass the City Council set the zoning restrictions for dispensaries and testing facilities to 1,000 feet from sensitive use areas. Opponents of the law said it was too restrictive and limiting for locating the businesses. The Council did include the provision for the planning commission to consider conditional use permits that would reduce the distance to 500 yards. The ordinance passed 6-2.
Several amendments were considered regarding the licensing fees and the number of licenses available. The Council did reduce the licensing application and permit fees. The initial application fee was set to $25,000 for dispensaries and $1,500 for testing facilities and also made the application fee refundable. Permit fees were amended to reduce the initial fee of $100,000 to $50,000 for dispensaries with an annual renewal fee of $25,000 and an initial permit fee of $5,000 for testing facilities with an annual renewal of $1,500. Additionally, the licenses will now be transferrable. The Council did stay with a cap of 5 dispensaries, but unlimited testing facilities. The city will not allow cultivation or manufacturing facilities. The amended ordinance passed 7-1.
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