Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cannabis Impact Study topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Community alliance names UMES to conduct Princess Anne retail cannabis impact study
Summary
A community group told the commission it will fund a University of Maryland Eastern Shore study of retail cannabis impacts in Princess Anne, naming UMES faculty leads and asking the town to accept an independent community-impact assessment.
A representative reading a letter to the Princess Anne Town Commission said the Community and Family Safety Alliance will fund an independent community impact study on retail cannabis sales to be conducted by the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
The letter, read into the record by a public commenter (Speaker 9), states that UMES "is a highly respected research institution, a powerhouse HBCU, and Princess Anne's community partner" and named Dr. Robert Brown (chair of the Departments of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences) and Dr. Miriam Sornell (chair of Pharmacy Practice and Administration) as lead researchers. The letter said the study will examine education, public safety, the economy, equity and community input and that UMES will provide "consistent updates" to the town and stakeholders; it also noted UMES’ participation on Maryland’s cannabis public-health advisory council.
The letter asked the commission to accept an independent, objective institution rather than have the town conduct or fund the study itself, which the alliance said could create perceptions of bias or an undue financial burden for the town. The commenter said a copy of the letter had been provided to the Princess Anne town manager, Somerset County and the Maryland cannabis administration.
Commissioners responded that the town would consider the report and that staff could coordinate further briefings. Several commissioners asked for follow-up presentations and work sessions to understand the study’s scope and how its findings would inform local decisions, especially if any regulatory or fiscal changes were later considered.
Ending: The commission acknowledged receipt of the letter and public comment and directed staff to coordinate with UMES and interested stakeholders on next steps and any future presentation to a work session or meeting.
