SPENCER REPORTS DISPENSARY
OWNERS SAY IT WOULD HURT THIS
GROWING INDUSTRY.
>> Reporter: PRINCE GEORGE’S
COUNTY HAS NINE MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES.
SOME LIKE MARY & MAIN IN CAPITOL
HEIGHTS ARE IN COMMERCIAL
CENTERS.
OTHERS LIKE WAVE ARE TUCKED AWAY IN A MORE SECLUDED AREA.
UNDER LEGISLATION THAT HAS
MAJORITY SUPPORT ON THE COUNCIL, ANY NEW DISPENSARIES WOULD HAVE
TO BE LOCATED IN HEAVY AND LIGHT
INDUSTRIAL AREAS.
>> WE KNOW THAT THE ACTUAL
FACILITY WILL BE GUARDED, BUT
WHAT ABOUT OUTSIDE?
WHAT ABOUT AROUND?
IF YOU PUT IT SO CLOSE TO OUR
COMMUNITIES, IT’S A RISK AND
IT’S A RISK THAT I DON’T THINK
IS WORTH TAKING.
>> Reporter: AT A PUBLIC HEARING
ON THE BILL SOME SPOKE AGAINST
HAVING THE DISPENSARIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND AGAINST
MARIJUANA IN GENERAL.
RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IS LEGAL
IN THE STATE FOR THOSE 21 AND
OLDER.
>> I KNOW IT’S A BUSINESS AND ALL THEY THINK ABOUT IS MONEY.
LET’S THINK ABOUT OUR BLACK AND
BROWN CHILDREN.
>> Reporter: AN AMENDMENT THAT
WOULD HAVE ALLOWED DISPENSARIES
IN COMMERCIAL ZONES LIKE SHOPPING CENTERS FAILED.
HOPE WISEMAN, OWNER OF MARY & MAIN, SAYS SHE’S THE YOUNGEST
BLACK WOMAN IN THE U.S. TO OWN A
DISPENSARY.
>> THIS IS ALMOST LIKE
FEAR-MONGERING.
A LOT OF THE THINGS I HEAR JUST LET ME KNOW THAT THE PROPAGANDA
USED TO PUSH THE WAR ON DRUGS IS
ALIVE AND WELL STILL TODAY.
>> Reporter: AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT
DISPENSARY LICENSES ARE EXPECTED
TO BE GRANTED IN THE COUNTY.
CAL SHAW OWNS WAVE IN GREENBELT.
HE SAYS THIS WOULD MAKE IT
HARDER FOR BUSINESSES TO FIND A LOCATION, THAT THERE’S A LOT OF
MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE
INDUSTRY.
>> WE ARE ONLY SERVING ADULTS 21
AND OVER. AND WE DO HAVE ENFORCEMENT.
WE DO HAVE SECURITY.
WE DO I.D. CHECKING. >> Reporter: SUPPORTERS OF THE
BILL POINT TO THE PROLIFERATION
OF TOBACCO, VAPE AND LIQUOR
STORES IN THE COUNTY.
THEY WANT TO BE PROACTIVE,
SETTING RULES ABOUT WHERE THEY
WANT THESE SHOPS TO GO BEFORE
IT’S TOO LATE.
>> SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT IF
WE PUT IT IN AN INDUSTRIAL ZONE
THERE WILL BE A MARKETING ISSUE.
THOSE WHO WANT IT AND NEED IT
WILL GO TO IT. >> Reporter: AGAIN THE
DISPENSARIES THAT ARE ALREADY
OPERATING MERE IN THE COUNTY
COULD NOT BE AFFECTED BY THIS
LEGISLATION. IT’S EXPECTED TO COME UP FOR A