The Prince George’s County Council voted unanimously on Nov. 10 to enact CB27, legislation to modernize how the county defines medical and treatment clinic uses and to include state-licensed methadone-treatment services in the county’s allowable use types.

Council members who spoke during the roll call explained the change is intended to expand access to medication-assisted treatment inside the county. Councilmember Adam Stafford said the bill “is going to expand opportunities for those that are needing that support in the county” and emphasized it is not eliminating methadone clinics but including them in the definition of clinic uses. Multiple members thanked Councilmember DeNoga (sponsor) for leadership on the issue.

At the public hearing, Stacy Jones, who said she had completed treatment herself, urged action so people do not have to leave the county daily to receive methadone. "We need methadone to recover. There's no place in the county to get it," Jones said.

The clerk recorded the final vote as 11-0 in favor of enacting CB27. The enacted change amends the county’s land-use definitions and off-street parking and related descriptions to allow state-licensed medical clinics, which supporters said will enable providers to offer methadone and other treatment services locally.

Next steps: the bill was enacted on second/third reading during the meeting; implementation will involve the county’s planning and permitting processes to accept applications consistent with the revised definition.