>>> A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE
FURTHER RESTRICTED WHERE
CANNABIS SHOPS CAN OPEN UP IN
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY FAILED.
THE BILL NEEDED SIX VOTES TO
PASS BUT ONLY FIVE COUNCIL
MEMBERS SUPPORTED THE LEGISLATION.
>> NEWS 4’S DARCY SPENCER
REPORTS SUPPORTERS WANTED TO
KEEP THE SHOPS IN INDUSTRIAL
AREAS BUT SOME FELT IT WAS GOING
TOO FAR. >> Reporter: THE PRINCE GEORGE’S
COUNTY COUNCIL DEFEATED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE
LIMITED NEW CANNABIS SHOPS LIKE
THIS ONE TO INDUSTRIAL AREAS OR
BUSINESS PARKS.
SUPPORTERS WANTED TO KEEP THEM
FROM EXPANDING IN SHOPPING
CENTERS AND STRIP MALLS. >> THE INDUSTRY WANTED THE SPACE
TO SAY TRUST US, WE’LL DO RIGHT
BY THE COMMUNITY, ALLOW US TO BE
ANYWHERE.
AND I FEEL LIKE THIS WAS JUST A
MOMENT THAT THE COMMUNITY DIDN’T
WIN.
>> Reporter: THE BILL FELL ONE
VOTE SHORT ON THE FINAL VOTE TUESDAY.
TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSTAINED,
SAYING THEY NEEDED MORE
INFORMATION.
COUNCIL MEMBER WANIKA FISHER WAS
OPPOSED.
>> THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN LEGALIZATION AND ZONING HAS BEEN
CONFLATED DURING THIS ENTIRE
PROCESS.
WE’RE NOT HERE TO DEBATE
LEGALIZATION.
>> SOME RESIDENTS EXPRESSED
CONCERNS ABOUT HAVING THE
DISPENSARIES LOCATED IN SHOPPING CENTERS, CITING THE MANY LIQUOR
STORES AND SMOKE SHOPS IN THE
COUNTY ALREADY.
>> IF WE GOT IT WRONG WITH OTHER
VICES SUCH AS ALCOHOL AND
TOBACCO STORES WE SHOULD NOT GET
IT WRONG AGAIN WITH MARIJUANA.
>> Reporter: THOSE WHO OPPOSED THE BILL POINTED OUT WEED WAS
ALREADY LEGALIZED IN MARYLAND
FOR THOSE 21 AND OLDER.
THESE BUSINESSES ARE LEGAL AND
REGULATED BY THE STATE.
>> I’VE HEARD THAT MARIJUANA
DISPENSARIES LOOK LIKE APPLE STORES IN SAN FRANCISCO.
BUT I CAN’T EVEN GET A SIT-DOWN
RESTAURANT IN MY DISTRICT.
>> Reporter: CANNABIS BUSINESS
OWNERS SAID THE NEW RESTRICTIONS WOULD HAVE HURT THE INDUSTRY
JUST AS MORE PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE
SEEKING LICENSES TO OPEN IN THE
COUNTY. SUPPORTERS OF THE LEGISLATION
TOLD ME THEY PLAN TO REINTRODUCE
IT IN JANUARY AND THEY WANT TO WORK WITH OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS
TO ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS.
IN LARGO DARCY SPENCER, NEWS 4.
>>> CURRENTLY, THERE ARE NINE
DISPENSARIES IN THE COUNTY.
MORE LICENSES ARE EXPECTED TO BE