Saturday, March 31, 2012

DC Council Prohibits Medical Marijuana Cultivation Centers on 7th Street, NW, in Shaw; Should Dispensaries be Next?

The D.C. Council last week passed legislation that prohibits medical marijuana cultivation centers (where medical marijuana will be grown) from locating in the District's retail priority areas. The legislation does not apply to medical marijuana dispensaries.

One of the District's retail priority areas includes the portions of 7th and 9th Streets, NW, that are located in Shaw.  Although no cultivation centers  have been proposed for Shaw, two groups have proposed to open dispensaries in Shaw — one at 1537 7th Street and one at 1539 7th Street, NW. (See prior posts on the applications here, here, and here.)  The proposed dispensaries on 7th Street have drawn community opposition, in part because of the potential negative impact on the redevelopment of the 7th Street corridor.

The legislation restricting where cultivation centers could locate was sponsored by Councilmember Yvette Alexander, who stated that the Council's approval of the legislation "is a great victory for neighborhoods that are fighting for vital economic development in their retail areas." She added: "With the absence of cultivation centers in retail priority areas, we will be in a better position to attract high-end retail stores to areas that have been designated for development...."

What do you think: Should the Council also pass legislation to prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries from locating in retail priority areas?

1 comment:

  1. Along that particular block of 7th Street...absolutely. There is already enough loitering, drug dealing, public drinking and urinating on the 1500 block of 7th Street and its surrounding alleys. A medical marijuana dispensary does NOTHING for this retail corridor. No issue with the dispensary itself, just should not be located there. I think a good suggestion has been locating it in one of the MANY, many empty retail spots at the Convention Center. If the city wants the dispensaries seems like that would be perfect location.

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