Anne Arundel Council hears hours of public testimony on cannabis setback bill, votes to hold final vote until July 6

The Anne Arundel County Council on June 15 heard extensive public testimony for and against Bill 2926, an ordinance that would establish minimum separation distances between licensed cannabis dispensaries and sensitive uses including schools, parks, child‑care centers and places of worship. After more than three hours of speakers, the council voted to hold the item for final action until its July 6 meeting.

Supporters including parents, faith leaders and neighborhood organizations urged the council to adopt the measure’s 500‑foot buffer from schools and child‑care facilities and a 100‑foot buffer from residential properties. “Reasonable setbacks can help reduce young people’s exposure to cannabis‑related advertising and storefronts in the places they frequent most,” 16‑year‑old Benjamin Cubic told the council, saying the bill would help keep schools and parks “focused on education, recreation, and community well‑being.” Reverend Lee Augsberger, whose church is about 450 feet from the proposed site at 91 Richie Highway, said state law already restricts some locations and argued a local code that clarifies how to measure distances would create “good neighbors.”

Opponents included prospective dispensary owners who said they relied on county zoning guidance before investing. Brandon Davis, who identified himself as a part owner of Vital at 91 Richie Highway, said he obtained a zoning certification and completed extensive due diligence before purchasing the property. “When rules appear to shift after people have relied on them, it sends the wrong message to businesses considering investing here,” he said, asking the council to reject the bill.

Council members pressed administration and planning staff on how distances are measured—entryway‑to‑entryway versus lot line‑to‑lot line—and on past approvals in the county. Sponsor Councilman Vulki said the bill aims to codify a consistent measurement method and cited multiple examples on Richie Highway that raised questions about how the county had applied setbacks in previous approvals.

The council heard that the Maryland Cannabis Administration maintains a statewide map of eligible dispensary locations; some speakers cited it to argue the proposed site would not meet state distance limits. Public health testimony referenced a peer‑reviewed study the speaker said found higher neighborhood ER visits related to cannabis in areas close to dispensaries.

After receiving 47 written submissions and hearing more than a dozen in‑person comments, the council unanimously approved a motion to hold the vote until July 6, the last scheduled meeting before the bill’s July 10 expiration. The hold preserves the record and gives the council time to resolve measurement and transition issues raised by multiple speakers. The hearing record and written testimony were added to the legislative file and posted to the council website.