STURGIS, S.D. – The city of Sturgis continued its work on its ordinances related to medical cannabis this week.
Council members passed second reading of an ordinance that will set up zoning areas for it.
Sturgis City Manager Daniel Ainslie says the ordinance says medical cannabis testing facilities or growing operations will be limited to the city’s industrial zones. As for dispensaries.
“Those have to be in commercial zones in our community and also it has to be a commercial zone at least 100 feet away from a residential zone area. So it means, dispensaries will have to be along the heart of Lazelle, although not all of Lazelle since it has some residential areas too.”
A second ordinance the city is working on deals with licensing of dispensaries. Ainslie says some changes were made, so another first reading of the ordinance took place Tuesday night.
“The council will authorize two licenses, where before it was four. After hearing from residents, I think the council overall felt it was a lot safer to have two. Also, there is some language in there stating that there would be preference that if the state Legislature authorizes it, that the city would be able have the licenses first and then lease them out to private operators.”
Ainslie says the state may drop some initial rules regarding the new industry within the next 30 to 45 days. After that, the Legislature may come up with some additional legislation.
