Hot Springs council splits on ordinance changes to allow cannabis cultivation and manufacturing

The Hot Springs City Council heard more than a dozen residents, business owners and public-safety advocates during a public hearing on proposed changes to the city's zoning and cannabis licensing ordinances, then split on two first-readings: councilmembers rejected zoning changes that would explicitly permit cultivation and manufacturing and approved revisions to the city's cannabis licensing chapter.

The contested measures were first-reading ordinances: No. 1262 would revise Title 15 (Land Use), amending Chapter 155 (zoning) sections 155.023 (General Commercial district), 155.025 (Highway Service district) and 155.058 (Cannabis Establishments) to allow cannabis establishments, including cultivation and manufacturing, in specified commercial zones. Ordinance 1263 would revise Title 9 (Business Regulations), Chapter 116 (Cannabis Establishments), including fee and licensing language.

The split reflected strong public participation and sharply different views about the local effects of allowing cultivation/manufacturing in a small city. Opponents cited odor, environmental and public-safety concerns and warned of property-value and quality-of-life impacts. Supporters and local dispensary representatives said medical patients…