Medical marijuana ordinances head to Jefferson City Council for approval

The Jefferson City Public Safety Committee sent two medical marijuana-related ordinance changes forward for approval by the City Council during its Thursday meeting.

The changes - one to the criminal code and one to business requirements - will be on the agenda at the next Jefferson City Council meeting, scheduled Nov. 4. The council could vote on the changes at its second meeting in November.

The first section of code that could see changes is the criminal provisions regarding use of marijuana. While recreational use and possession will still be illegal, medical marijuana use - which was passed as a constitutional amendment last November - will now be legal in the state of Missouri.

To compensate, a new section will be added to the city code allowing for the use and possession of medical marijuana and other drug paraphernalia, as well as explanations of penalties for failing to produce a state-issued medical marijuana license, how to properly dispose of medical marijuana, residential cultivation rules, locations of consumption and public nuisances.

The proposed ordinance states smells or noxious odors from the consumption, smoking or cultivation of marijuana by someone with a valid state-issued license will be treated as a public nuisance.

Residents will be able to report marijuana-cultivating set-ups as a public nuisance if they produce light, glare, heat, noise, odor or vibration that is detrimental to public safety, health or welfare, or if they interfere with the "reasonable enjoyment of life and property," according to the proposed code.

Sections of the ordinance about recreational marijuana or other drug use will add language clarifying those sections will stay the same, except as authorized by the new section regarding medical marijuana.

The second proposed ordinance change relates to business requirements for medical marijuana facilities. All facilities will be required to have a city business license but won't be required to have any other city-issued licenses.

Facilities must also be properly licensed or certified by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The ordinance also specifies facilities can't make sales or be open to the public between the hours of 7 p.m.-6 a.m.

Medical marijuana facilities must have an adequate security plan in accordance with state regulations, including security video preserved for at least 90 days, a method of immediate and automatic notification to local law enforcement in the event of a breach of security and professionally monitored robbery alarm and burglar alarm systems.