Springfield City Council adopts recreational marijuana regulations before Feb. 6 deadline

Over the sole objection of Councilman Craig Hosmer, Springfield City Council approved an ordinance bringing the city into compliance with Missouri's recently passed recreational marijuana constitutional amendment.

Following the recreational weed measure's approval by 53 percent of Missouri voters in November, Springfield was required to update its statutes before newly-minted recreational facilities begin selling marijuana, as early as Feb. 6. If council failed to approve the ordinance, the 11 current medical facilities in Springfield would be prevented from selling recreational marijuana.

Council held a special meeting Tuesday to approve a bill that would make "minimal changes" to city ordinance, according to an included staff report. Comprehensive marijuana facilities will be allowed "in the same districts with similar standards" as currently existing medical marijuana facilities.

Councilman Craig Hosmer said the proposed regulation would allow the sale of recreational marijuana too close to children.

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Amendment 3 requires a 1,000-foot separation between marijuana businesses and any elementary or secondary school, child daycare center, or church unless local governments allow them to be closer.

Springfield's bill would include the full 1,000-foot separation between marijuana dispensaries and schools. However, it would allow a reduced separation of 200 feet from daycare centers and churches. This mirrors the city's current policy regarding medical facilities.

Hosmer introduced a motion to increase the 200 feet requirement for any new recreational marijuana facilities to the full 1,000 feet allowed but the proposal was shot down without another council member supporting it.

"I will be voting against this. I think it is horrible public policy for the city of Springfield to encourage as many recreational marijuana facilities as we can get in the city of Springfield. And to place them next to our daycare centers, our churches in the city of Springfield. I don't know who is pushing this issue, but this is bad public policy, it's bad for law enforcement, it's bad for communities, it is bad for our city."

Councilman Matt Simpson countered that this policy is what Springfield voters want, as evidenced by the electorate's approval of recreational marijuana.

"I think it's important to follow the state constitution and listen to the voters on that," Simpson said.

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According to Hosmer, allowing for a 1,000-foot separation is an option given to municipalities by the constitutional amendment, and one that the city should take.

"Don't say this is what the people accepted because it's not what they voted on," Hosmer retorted. "We're putting these things closer to daycare centers than the constitution requires. We're putting these things closer to churches than the constitution requires. And who for? Who are we doing this for? Again, I think this is bad public policy, it doesn't make sense and I think we are going to rue the day that we've done this."

That is not a view shared by any of Hosmer's colleagues on City Council.

"Marijuana has been decriminalized and its allowable and I think we're regulating it in a manner that is responsible and the way the citizens have asked us to do so. I will be supporting," said Councilman Andy Lear.

Hosmer also claimed recreational marijuana would increase crime in the city — calling it a "gateway drug."

SPD Officer Stacey Parton joined council to relay the department's concerns over recreational marijuana. He reported there has been no quantifiable uptick in crime from the advent of medical marijuana facilities in Springfield. However, he noted the department is concerned crime could increase from the legal sale of recreational marijuana.

"Studies have indicated that (recreational marijuana) would be followed by an increase of criminal activity," Parton told City Council.

He also noted that such an increase would not necessarily be tied to the location of dispensaries.

Councilman Mike Schilling did not agree that recreational marijuana would increase crime — claiming the security at dispensaries is "heavy-duty."

"I haven't seen any data of a crime wave in front of dispensaries in other cities or states. It's just not been provided. So I think the safety issue and preventing crime is a non-starter," Schilling said.

Over Hosmer's strenuous objection, council approved the ordinance in a 7-1 vote.