Wednesday, May 21, 2014 | 9:36 p.m.
Medical marijuana dispensaries will be allowed on Fremont Street east of 8th Street, and on Las Vegas Boulevard in Las Vegas.
Into the 12th hour of a marathon meeting, the City Council approved various zoning requirements for medical marijuana dispensaries, cultivation facilities and production facilities.
Ultimately, only 12 dispensaries will be allowed in the city. There are no numerical limits on cultivation and production facilities beyond distance separation requirements, and the ultimate approval of the City Council.
Distance separation approved late Wednesday night designated that dispensaries, cultivation and production facilities must be 1,000 feet from schools, 300 feet from parks or community centers, and 300 feet from churches.
Dispensaries will have to be located in commercial areas and, by a 5-2 vote, will be allowed on Fremont Street east of 8th Street and on Las Vegas Boulevard.
By state law, 66 medical marijuana dispensaries will be allowed in the state, including 40 in Clark County. Of those 40, Las Vegas gets 12, Henderson gets five, North Las Vegas gets four and Mesquite would get one.
Mayor Carolyn Goodman said she is directing city staff to work with North Las Vegas staff to see if the two cities can create production and cultivation facilities in some of North Las Vegas’ vacant industrial buildings.
“I don’t want any of our residents at risk — that’s why I want to find a remote area for production,” she said.
Sources at the meeting said the North Las Vegas City Council is expected to take up similar medical marijuana matters at its June 4 meeting.
Arguing for the possibilities of dispensaries on Las Vegas Boulevard, Councilman Bob Coffin said the city already has “an abundance of pawn shops, an abundance of strip joints … a pharmacy model of marijuana dispensary is very likely to be an upgrade.”
It wasn't the council's last swipe at medical marijuana. They will also consider rules to apply for a business license at its June meeting.
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