The Sioux Falls City Council and Lincoln County Commission will both consider ordinances Tuesday about the upcoming legalization of medical marijuana.
While medical marijuana becomes legal on July 1, the state has until Oct. 29 to create its rules and regulations, leading to concerns that local regulations could become overridden if created too early.
While both groups will consider similar ordinances that would deny applications to medical cannabis establishments until the state creates those rules, Lincoln County will also consider an ordinance that would outline a framework for such businesses.
Those rules would include that no such establishments could operate within 1,000 feet of a school or in-home daycare, that all establishments would need electronic security systems, as well as background checks for all employees, board members and volunteers.
More: Sioux Falls, Minnehaha officials continue slow march forward on medical marijuana regulations
The ordinance also has several areas that have been left blank, such has how many licenses could be issued for different types of medical cannabis establishments, and several places that refer to fees show the amount as “$XXXXX.”
The Lincoln County Planning Commission’s recommendation, noting that county staff had drafted two options, was to “conduct the public hearing and then recommend approval, denial or amendment to the Board of Commissioners a temporary ordinance regarding the issuance of local medical cannabis establishment permits and/or licenses.”
The Lincoln County Commission will meet at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, and the Sioux Falls City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The Minnehaha County Commission will not meet until June 14.
