Wilmington council adopts 90-day moratorium on retail marijuana business licenses

Wilmington City Council adopted Ordinance No. 25-004 on Thursday, temporarily suspending issuance of business licenses for retail marijuana stores for 90 days to allow the city and community more time to address zoning and placement.

The measure — described by its sponsor as a 90-day pause to "zone properly" — passed after a roll-call vote in which eight council members voted yes, two registered as present and three were absent. Council President Trippie Congo declared the ordinance adopted.

The ordinance and its brief council debate followed a committee report from the Health, Environmental, Aging and Disabilities Committee that referenced Ordinance No. 25-004 and recommended council action. Councilman Hackett, the ordinance sponsor, said the pause is intended to ensure retail marijuana stores are located where they will not "negatively affecting our community." He said the moratorium would give the new administration and council time to complete zoning work.

Public comment at the meeting was sharply divided. Cynthia Ferguson, a longtime Wilmington resident, said she was "a little shocked by this…