The Springfield City Council recently rejected a proposal to ease restrictions on opening medical marijuana facilities, opting to maintain separate regulations for medical and recreational cannabis establishments. The Planning Department had recommended updating the restrictive medical cannabis ordinance, which was originally implemented in 2014 and limited dispensaries to industrial zones while prohibiting them from being near schools. Despite concerns at the time, a more lenient recreational cannabis ordinance was adopted following the legalization of adult-use marijuana by voters in 2018.
Since the passage of the recreational cannabis law, city leaders have been less worried about negative impacts on neighborhoods and have allowed dispensaries in various business zones. The revised ordinance also removed some of the harsher restrictions, such as the ban on dispensaries near colleges. The decision to maintain separate regulations for medical and recreational marijuana facilities reflects the city’s evolving approach to cannabis legalization and its efforts to balance public health and safety concerns with the economic opportunities presented by the burgeoning industry.
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