The Caroline County Commissioners recently held their third reading on emergency legislative bills concerning cannabis facilities and permit denials. Both of these emergency bills have now been enacted to help the county align with state requirements.
The emergency cannabis bill was introduced to ensure that Caroline County complies with regulations set forth by the state. This follows the passage of House Bill 805 in 2024, which established stricter zoning requirements for cannabis businesses than those that existed before recreational cannabis was legalized in Maryland.
Under the new state regulations, cannabis dispensaries cannot be located within 500 feet of schools, child care centers, recreation centers, libraries, public parks, or churches. The county commissioners discussed the possibility of extending this distance further due to the close proximity of schools within the county. Commissioner Vice President Larry Porter raised concerns about the implications of the regulations, especially with two schools located near the designated C2 district for dispensaries.
Caroline County’s Director of Planning and Codes, Crystal Dadds, noted that the only available areas for dispensaries in Denton are outside the 500-foot setback requirement from Lockerman Middle School and Denton Elementary School. After reviewing the situation, the commissioners opted to maintain the 500-foot distance mandate as it stands.
In addition to the cannabis regulations, the second emergency bill passed during the meeting introduced a new provision allowing the Department of Planning and Codes to deny applications for new work if an applicant does not comply with zoning codes on the same property. However, residents seeking to rectify any violations will still be permitted to apply for permits to resolve those issues.
If an applicant owns multiple properties, they will be allowed to apply for permits on one property while ensuring compliance across all their holdings. This approach aims to streamline the process and uphold zoning regulations effectively.
