The Solvang City Council has approved the first reading of an ordinance that would give the green light to medical marijuana businesses within a specific area of the city.
In a 4-1 vote, the council voted to approve the specific area, with the one dissenting vote coming from Mayor Jim Richardson.
According to Solvang City Attorney Dave Fleishman, the ordinance would allow medical dispensaries in the area of the city zoned C3, commercial general. The primary location is on the south side of Highway 246 in an area across from Skytt Mesa Drive.
While the city currently prohibits all marijuana businesses, that ordinance is going to expire soon.
Fleishman said the ordinance approved this week would replace and repeal the current code and added that councilors would have the opportunity to revise the ordinance at a later date.
Councilor Joan Jamieson said, “I don’t know that I want to see the processing of marijuana in any of our shops.’
“To prohibit all uses may doom the operation of the medical retail operation because it can’t compete financially,” said Fleishman.
“I think we’re very clear that you don’t want massive processing or distribution facilities,” Fleishman remarked. “It’s not as if semitrucks are going to be backing up and carrying out huge quantities to go elsewhere in the state.”
