Jackson adopts ordinance regulating medical cannabis businesses, council votes 7–0

The Jackson City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance on March 18 to regulate medical cannabis business activity, establishing Chapter 114, Article 5 of the City of Jackson Code of Ordinances.

Yika Hoover of Economic Development explained the ordinance to the council: it standardizes where medical cannabis businesses may operate, sets hours, addresses disposal methods and creates a licensing fee structure similar to other regulated businesses. “This ordinance is about making sure that the medical cannabis businesses in Jackson adhere to the same regulations—where they're able to operate, what hours they're able to operate, disposal methods and all,” Hoover said.

Council members discussed public-safety monitoring and the city’s ability to track dispensary locations. Councilman Kenneth Stokes asked whether the police would get reports similar to pawn-shop reporting; Economic Development staff said there was no mechanism like that currently in the ordinance but that the city would monitor locations for any connections to street-level issues while respecting medical privacy protections.

Councilman Brandon Foote asked whether cultivation, research or processing facilities existed inside the city; Economic Development staff said dispensaries were the primary local presence and recollected one cultivation facility by memory. The council voted 7–0 to adopt the ordinance.

The ordinance was introduced previously and discussed at earlier meetings; council members said the regulation will allow the city to register and monitor locations, licensing and operations going forward.