Montgomery County council hears concerns about 100‑foot buffer for cannabis dispensaries

Montgomery County Council held a public hearing June 26, 2025, on Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 25‑07, a proposal that would prohibit licensed cannabis dispensaries within 100 feet of lots improved with residential uses.

The measure matters to local officials and residents because state law currently identifies a 500‑foot buffer from “sensitive locations” such as schools, child care facilities, libraries, parks and places of worship. Testimony at the hearing focused on whether the county’s 100‑foot proposal would conflict with state rules, how it would be applied across mixed‑use areas, and the immediate impact of a proposed dispensary in Kensington.

Tracy Fuhrman, mayor of the Town of Kensington, told the council she believes both the state and the county may have overlooked applications of the state’s 500‑foot rule. “After a conditional…