Will the city of Jamestown be a location where people will be able to dispense cannabis?

On Monday, Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist discussed with the Jamestown City Council during its work session meeting what the new legalization of recreational marijuana use in the state means for the city. He said by the end of the year, the council will have to decide whether to opt out of allowing dispensaries to operate or allow them to be active in the city. Along with dispensaries, Sundquist said the city can opt out of allowing on-site marijuana consumption facilities as well.

According to Sundquist, under state law individual municipalities must act by the end of the year on passing a law banning these establishments. If a law is approved by the council, it will then go to a public vote to decide if the law will be enacted. No action is needed if a municipality wants to allow dispensaries and on-site consumption locations to operate.

Sundquist said the city can regulate the time, location and manner in how marijuana is dispensed in the city, which would fall under the city’s zoning laws. He said the state law already regulates how close dispensaries and consumption facilities can be located to schools and places of worship. He added even if the city opts out of allowing dispensaries and on-site consumption facilities, recreational marijuana use and possession will still be legal within the city.

The state will impose a 13% tax on the purchase of pot in a municipality, with 9% going to the state, 3% going to the municipality and 1% to the county, Sundquist said.

During the discussion, Timothy Jackson, Jamestown Police Department chief and city public safety director, said his biggest concern is someone operating a vehicle under the influence of marijuana. He said police officers can no longer search a vehicle based on just the smell of marijuana coming from inside the automobile. He added the police department does have a drug recognition expert and another officer will be receiving the training shortly. However, Jackson said more officers will need to be trained, which is expensive and a lengthy process.

Sundquist said some of the funding the state will receive from the tax is supposed to go toward additional drug recognition expert training for police departments.

The mayor said, so far, local pharmacies have shown the most interest in being a potential dispensary. Sundquist said the possible dispensing of marijuana in the city, if officials don’t opt out, won’t start until next year.