By Katie Misuraca
Frederick County Council has a tough battle ahead with the legalization of medical marijuana without the support of some members in the Frederick area.
Frederick County Council Vice President M.C. Keegan-Ayer has been trying to propose a bill that would have permitted medical marijuana to be grown in facilities in county agricultural zones.
“It is a good industry for Frederick County,” Keegan-Ayer said. “It gives our farmers an option for an economically viable crop to be growing in a small segment of their property.”
Keegan-Ayer stated she thinks that the medical marijuana industry would be huge economic boost for farmers during drought seasons or during slower growing season throughout the year.
“It would allow them [farmers] to continue to do the more traditional forms of farming with the rest of their property even in times where it may not be as economically profitable,” Keegan-Ayer said.
For example, if the farmer was a dairy farmer, or having a down year where the prices are lower, there is a portion of their property that they can use as an economically profitable.
“I feel really strongly that this is an opportunity that we would be remised not allowing out farmers to be competitive with other county’s in the state,” Keegan-Ayer said.
Frederick County Farm Bureau raised some concerns about growing medical marijuana in the county. The biggest issue that was raised was security issues as well as the visual impact of where the cannabis would grow.
“Frederick County Board of Directors oppose the growth, production, harvesting, processing, distribution, and sales of medical cannabis on Agricultural land in Frederick County,” Robert Ramsburg, president of Frederick County Farm Bureau said.
Local farmers that Ramsburg have spoken too have said the medical marijuana industry would only favor a “niche market only.”
“Most [farmers] oppose it for the increased criminal activity that is sure to follow its production. Security is another big issue,” Ramsburg said.
Ramsburg states that the Farming Bureau just doesn’t think that this something the farmers want on Agricultural land in Frederick County.
Vice President of the Farmers Bureau, Audrey Wolfe, in agreement with Ramsburg, stated that the farmers do not support growing and processing on agricultural land.
“Medical cannabis can be grown now on industrial zoned land and that is where farmers feel it should be grown,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe stated that anything that is “this dangerous,” should require armed guards and razor barbed wire fence to keep people out that should not be on agriculture land.
“Farms should not be on agriculture land. Farms have always been thought of and proved to be for families. Farmers do not want farms that look like prisons,” Wolfe said.
Wolfe also stated that the liability insurance for farmers next to farm growing medical marijuana would increase.
“They [farmers] will get no relief for the high cost to them for liability insurance. Farmers are not against medical cannabis, they are only against where it is grown,” Wolfe said.
Keegan-Ayer recently just pulled her bill that would of allowed medical marijuana to be grown in facilities in county agricultural zones.
Keegan-Ayer needed a majority vote of four council members to approve of the bill. As of now, the councilwoman only has three votes among the seven council members.
Frederick County Planning Commission suggested changes to the bill that would require medical marijuana to be grown in greenhouse.
The commission also suggested that the council should increase the required front, rear, and side yard setbacks to 200 feet that would surround the greenhouse as well as the farm.
The Commission also suggested “the growing premises may not be located within 1,000 feet of a dwelling or the lot line of a public or private school, children center, or nursery school owned or leased by a public or private educational facility, childcare center, or nursery school. Also, establish a foot candle limit at property line to address light escaping from the growing premises between dusk and dawn.”
Keegan-Ayer won’t let this idea of medical marijuana drop for the county. Keegan-Ayer plans to rewrite the bill and bring it back to the Frederick County Council sometime in May.
According to the Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission, the state of Maryland will issue only 15 licenses to growers, and each license will cost $125,000. Growers will have to tag and closely account for every plant.