Benton County Prepares for Public Hearing on Cannabis Regulations

(KNSI) – Benton County will soon discuss how it wants to regulate the budding cannabis industry.

Residents can add their two cents to the proposed Ordinance 496, titled ‘Regulating Cannabis and Lower-Potency Hemp Edible Businesses,’ during a public hearing on November 19th. Land Services Director Roxanne Achman told KNSI News she’s been helping craft the rules. “There will be provisions put in place that will help regulate the cannabis businesses, whether that be a setback, odor control, guiding when they can light up the area, making sure that we’re not causing a nuisance for neighbors.”

After the public hearing, the board of commissioners will be allowed to make a final decision.

A measure regulating where cannabis retailers can operate has just been drafted. Achman says it is ready to go before the planning commission on November 14th. “So, we’ll be making determinations and reviewing the appropriate districts for these businesses to be located and how they should be permitted. Whether it’s permitted outright, permitted with an interim use permit, a conditional use permit.” After the planning commission discusses the zoning rules, they will set a public hearing for December 12th and then pass the proposed regulation to the board of commissioners.

The zoning ordinance would not affect the cities that have already decided to pass their own cannabis regulations.

The ordinances are the culmination of meetings with the Office of Cannabis Management, surrounding counties and cities, and research on how it is regulated in other states to find where the issues lie and why they decided to move forward with certain regulations. Achman explained the rules handcuff local governments. “We regulate where we can, knowing that there’s simply areas that we do not have the right to regulate. But part of that regulation is making sure that the retail components are not closer to churches, schools, parks than what is allowed in the statute.”

The ordinance requires marijuana dispensaries and businesses to stay 1,000 feet from schools and 500 feet from daycares, drug treatment centers, and public parks.

The county expects to start getting applications from cannabis companies in the spring.

Click here to check out the proposed regulations, and click here for the zoning rules.

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