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Council cancels public hearing for Richardson—9s Remedies dispensary; city will issue conditional local permit pending state license
Summary
The council agreed that a public hearing was not required under the newly revised Chapter 13 section 39 and allowed the city clerk to process the Richardson's Remedies application and to issue a conditional permit pending a valid State of Maine dispensary license.
The Caribou City Council on Sept. 15 canceled a scheduled public hearing for a proposed medical cannabis dispensary, Richardson's Remedies, and instructed the city clerk to process the local application and issue a conditional permit contingent on receipt of the state license.
City staff explained the city adopted a revised Chapter 13, Section 39 (effective Aug. 28) that authorizes registered dispensaries but did not at the same time repeal or replace Chapter 7 Article 11, which contains licensing procedures and a public hearing requirement for registered nonprofit dispensaries and cultivation facilities. Municipal Attorney Richard Solomon provided written advice cited by staff that Chapter 7 Article 11 remains applicable only to registered nonprofit dispensaries; a newly authorized registered dispensary that is not a nonprofit would not be subject to Article 11.
Staff also reviewed the ordinance9s security and building-code provisions and reported an inspection (Sept. 10) by the deputy code enforcement officer, fire chief and police chief had been completed and the report submitted to the city clerk. Staff said Richardson's Remedies is not presently a state-registered dispensary and must apply to the State of Maine for a license; the local permit should be conditioned on state licensure or the city could issue a conditional permit while the applicant pursues a state license.
Staff contacted the Office of Cannabis Policy and received clarification from Alisa Ellis that local authorization is required as part of the dispensary application process and that the local process can include issuance of a conditional permit with final state licensure to follow. Councilor motions to cancel the public hearing and allow the clerk to proceed with processing the application were approved by voice vote.
Jill Cohen, participating by Zoom from the Office of Cannabis Policy, told the council she had intended to clarify licensing procedures but that the Office of Cannabis Policy had already provided the clarifying guidance.
The council—9s action cancels the public hearing on the agenda and directs the clerk—9s office to continue processing the application and to issue a conditional permit pending presentation of a valid State of Maine dispensary license.
