The Magee Mayor and Board of Aldermen met recently and approved the medical cannabis ordinance that will govern any such facilities moving into the city limits.
The board had previously held a special called meeting to discuss proposed changes to the ordinances concerning medical cannabis facilities.
Zoning Administrator Penny Aguirre presented the board with changes which included defining medical cannabis and cannabis related facilities.
Cannabis means all parts of the plant of the genus cannabis, the flower, the seeds thereof, the resin extracted from any part of the plant, and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds, or its resin, including whole plant extracts.
Cannabis cultivation facilities, canopies, disposal, processing facilities, products, and research facilities were all defined by the Zoning Board.
Aguirre presented the board with proposed amendments to zoning ordinances to encompass general regulations for medical cannabis establishments. The ordinance requires these establishments to follow all federal, state, and local laws and ordinances adopted by the Magee Board of Aldermen.
The city’s cannabis plan will mirror most of what was established by the Simpson County Board of Supervisors. A privilege license and operation permit must be obtained from the Mississippi Department of Health and local zoning administrator. The local application permit will require an initial fee of $1,500 and the annual renewal fee will be $1,000 with a 10 percent late fee charge for late renewal. If a facility fails to renew their permit in 30 days, the permit will be revoked and the facility will be shut down.
All medical cannabis establishments must submit preliminary site plans, and no storage or display of materials or equipment shall be visible, excluding vehicles.
The allowed hours of operation for these businesses shall be limited to 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays.
Aguirre also presented revised definitions of the terms boarding houses, rooming houses, inns or bed and breakfast inns for the city. The definitions of these establishments were revised to set a limit on the number of people that lodging can be provided to and for how long. The revisions also establish that owners, managers, and hosts of boarding houses are not permitted to sell alcohol to guests without a state license, and these venues shall not be used to host open-invite gatherings whether advertised or unadvertised. These establishments are also not to be advertised as “party friendly.”
The definitions specify that boarding houses shall not provide lodging for more than 12 people on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Rooming houses shall not provide lodging for more than 10 people for a time not exceeding 30 days. Inns or bed and breakfast establishments can only provide lodging for up to 20 people. All city ordinances and noise ordinances apply to these establishments.
The amendments concerning cannabis were approved at the Magee Mayor and Board of Aldermen meeting on May 2.
Gaye Magee and David Massey with The Simpson County Historical and Genealogical Society also appeared before the board to discuss the upcoming bicentennial celebration for Simpson County. They explained that the celebration of the 200th Anniversary for Simpson County has been divided into 50-year segments, and each municipality and community will have an opportunity to adopt one of the segments for a special celebration.
The city that adopts a segment will schedule events and activities to help celebrate that period in Simpson County. The organization also requested $1,000 from the city to assist with planning for the Bicentennial Celebration. After some discussion the board tabled their decision.
Owner of The Vault Merika Kalman appeared before the board and received permission to close a portion of Main Street for The Vault’s Centennial Celebration. Kalman said plans are to celebrate the building housing the restaurant on Main Avenue turning 100 years old with crawfish, cornhole, live music, and fireworks.
The board approved the street closure. Kalman also requested to be able to extend all operations into the street and to be able to sell beer on the street during the celebration since the crawfish and festivities are going to be outside. She explained that security would be enforced, and people would not be allowed to leave the area with alcohol.
Kalman said, “If you’re outside eating crawfish you’re not going to want to get up and go inside to take a drink and come back.”
Attorney Marc McMillan said it is a local ordinance and the board could look into a special event permit or form. The board tabled the decision until their next meeting. meeting.
