Wilmington council adopts zoning for recreational marijuana, backs companion revenue resolution

WILMINGTON, Del. — Wilmington City Council on May 1 adopted substitute ordinance 25-013 to regulate where and how recreational marijuana businesses can operate in the city, and approved a companion resolution proposing a 3% city share of related revenue.

The ordinance permits four licensed adult-use marijuana activities — cultivation, product manufacturing, testing and retail — only in specified commercial, manufacturing and waterfront zoning districts (C-5; M-1 and M-2; W-1, W-2 and W-3). Retail sales and testing may be allowed as a special exception in the W-4 mixed-use district with zoning board approval. The law also requires a 300-foot buffer between any marijuana use and residential zoning districts or schools serving kindergarten through 12th grade, requires city business licenses for the four facility types, and adds parking and other technical rules for testing facilities.

Planning Department staff member Gwyneth Kaminski summarized the…