Bel Air adopts ordinance increasing required distance between cannabis dispensaries to one half mile

The Board of Town Commissioners of Bel Air approved Ordinance 842‑25 on first reading to revise the town code’s spacing requirement for cannabis dispensaries, changing the minimum distance from 1,000 feet to one‑half mile.

Commissioner Chismar moved for approval of Ordinance 842‑25, described in the public hearing as “amending the town code chapter 165, article 7, section 165‑53(h)(2)(a)(1), revising the required distance between cannabis dispensaries.” Commissioner Rutledge seconded the motion. Commissioner Taylor said he preferred adopting the state‑authorized maximum distance to allow the town to “crawl before we walk and run” with a new business type; he added the change could be revisited later. “I certainly don’t think it's wise to invite a proliferation of cannabis dispensaries into the town limit,” Commissioner Taylor said.

Chair Eddy confirmed the board had only one choice under state law—selecting a permitted distance between 1,000 feet and one‑half mile—and called the roll. The vote was unanimous: Commissioners Rutledge, Chismar, Taylor and Chair Eddy voted “Aye,” and the ordinance was approved.

The ordinance changes only the spacing metric; no other regulatory provisions were discussed at the hearing or during the motion. No members of the public spoke at the public hearing, which opened and closed at 5:17 p.m. The board offered that the change aligns the town with the state maximum allowed distance and left open the option to adjust the ordinance later if experience with local dispensaries suggests a different approach.

The ordinance was recorded as approved at the meeting; the board did not set an additional implementation date in the discussion.