Committee clears zoning ordinance to restrict recreational marijuana to industrial/commercial and waterfront districts

An ordinance to amend Chapter 48 of the Wilmington City code to allow and regulate four types of licensed recreational marijuana uses — cultivation, product manufacturing, testing and retail — was released from the Community Development and Urban Planning Committee on Wednesday and will go to the full City Council for consideration.

The ordinance would limit where the industry can locate and add local regulations beyond state law, including a required 300-foot buffer from residential zoning districts and public and private schools serving kindergarten through 12th grade. The Planning Division and the Planning Commission recommended the version the committee considered.

Gwen Kaminsky of the Planning Division told the committee, “Substitute number 1 to ordinance 25 13 addresses the location and regulation of 4 licensed non medical recreational marijuana uses within the city.” She said the draft aligns the city code with the 2023 state enabling laws (House Bill 1 and House Bill 2),…