Council approves specific-use permit for medical marijuana dispensary at 209 South Perkins Road

The Stillwater City Council voted 5-0 Monday to approve a specific-use permit (SUP) allowing a medical marijuana dispensary at 209 South Perkins Road in the Frontier Plaza shopping center. Planning staff member Henry, who presented the item, said the property is zoned Commercial Shopping (CS) and that a dispensary is an allowed use only with a SUP. "The specific use permit runs with the land. So not necessarily tied to this specific license," Henry said, noting the city also confirmed with the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) that the dispensary's state license is valid through October. The Planning Commission recommended approval by a 4-0 vote on July 8, 2025; the council moved to accept that recommendation and approved the SUP by a 5-0 vote. Council members had no public speakers signed up for the hearing. Why it matters: the SUP authorizes a use that the city considers more intensive than typical commercial retail and requires council review. City staff emphasized that the SUP authorizes the land use, but the business must maintain a valid OMMA license to lawfully operate; if the state license lapses, state law would preclude operation regardless of the city's SUP. Discussion and supporting details: during the meeting staff displayed aerial and street views and described adjacent zoning (single-family residential to the east and west, CS to the north and south). Staff explained this request is a transfer of an existing dispensary license at that address. Councilors asked whether the SUP should include a condition tied to the OMMA license renewal; staff replied that the SUP by ordinance runs with the land and that the state license is the operative permit for lawful operation. Staff said they will continue to monitor licensing status with OMMA. Outcome and next steps: The council's vote finalizes the city's land-use approval; the dispensary must retain a valid OMMA license to open or continue operations. No additional city conditions tying the SUP explicitly to license renewal were imposed.