By Terry Schrimscher, For the Tribune
CENTER POINT – The city of Center Point is preparing for the statewide availability of medical cannabis. City leaders approved an ordinance allowing the operation of dispensaries within city limits at the regular meeting of the City Council on Thursday night, May 4.
Council President DM Collins presided over the short meeting, which lasted approximately 20 minutes. The medical cannabis dispensary ordinance and an ordinance allowing tattoo and piercing parlors were the main points on the agenda other than property abatements.
The Council held a public hearing on both measures during the meeting before bringing them up for a vote.
Collins read a letter to the members of the Council from a citizen who was unable to attend asking them to consider the long-term effects of allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in the city. No one else spoke for or against either measure.
“If medical marijuana requires a prescription, why is it not being sold in established pharmacies that have certified pharmacists,” read Collins. The letter writer said it is only two steps from legalizing marijuana for other uses and cited Colorado as an example claiming traffic accidents have increased due to usage and underage usage has increased there.
“Let’s keep Center Point moving forward and not let it gradually slide back to the city it was in 2000,” the letter said. “Do not base your decision on business solely based on revenue.”
The Council approved the ordinance allowing dispensaries in the city on a majority vote. Collins was the lone “no” vote on the measure.
Medical marijuana was approved in the state in 2021 when Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation creating the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC). Alabama became the 37th state to approve the use of cannabis for medical purposes. The legislation creating the commission was Alabama Act 2021-450.
According to the AMCC website, patients with Autism, cancer-related complications, Crohn’s, depression, epilepsy HIV/AIDS. Parkinson’s, PTSD, and other illnesses qualify for medical cannabis treatment. A full list can be found on the AMCC website.
Currently, there are no doctors prescribing medical marijuana in the state and no dispensaries have opened. The commission has set a limit on the number of dispensaries statewide and requires licensed owners to receive approval from each municipality, to develop an education plan, a community engagement plan and meet a variety of conditions established by the commission.
At the April 13 meeting of the commission, it was announced more than 90 applications for cannabis business licenses had been filed. The commission is scheduled to award the licenses at the June 12 meeting.
Prior to the vote on tattoo and body piercing parlors, Collins read another, similar letter to the Council asking for the Council to consider the image of the city and not base their decision solely on tax revenue. The ordinance allowing the tattoo and piercing businesses was approved by majority with Collins again voting “no.”
A live-streamed recording of this meeting can be seen on the city Facebook page.
The Center Point City Council meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month at City Hall located at 2209 Center Point Parkway. The next meeting will be held Thursday, May 18, at 6:30 p.m.