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Liquor stores, cannabis dispensaries in residential areas rejected by Harford County Council

Harford County executive opposes bill that would allow liquor stores, cannabis dispensaries in resid
Harford County executive opposes bill that would allow liquor stores, cannabis dispensaries in resid 03:05

BALTIMORE -- The Harford County Council voted against a bill that would have allowed liquor stores and cannabis dispensaries near residential neighborhoods in a meeting Tuesday night.

Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly released a statement Wednesday morning praising the council's vote.

"I would like to thank the many citizens and the majority of council members who joined me in opposing Bill 24-037. This ill-advised legislation would have allowed liquor stores, and therefore, recreational cannabis dispensaries, in any of the 232 parcels countywide that are zoned B-1," Cassilly said. "Harford County is pro-business, but we are also pro-family and that is why our zoning code directs certain businesses away from areas that are intended to support residential neighborhoods."

Under the proposed legislation, liquor stores and recreational cannabis dispensaries would be able to open in 232 parcels of land classified as B1 Zoning Districts. These areas contain community centers, daycare facilities, libraries, and parks.

In December 2024, Cassilly expressed his opposition to the bill, stating that it was the second time a bill of its kind had been proposed.

I December Cassilly spoke out against the measure, saying it was undesired by residents, and that it would bring unnecessary traffic to the community. 

"People don't want liquor stores and marijuana stores in their neighborhoods," Cassilly said. "Those are areas that go into a more intensive use, more traffic. Traffic that is not from your neighborhood. People who come to the liquor store aren't necessarily from that neighborhood. They're from all over the area."

Cannabis and public health

In 2018, Harford County opened its first medical dispensary before recreational use was legalized in 2023.

Maryland saw $4.5 million in sales on the first day of legal cannabis sales, and $21 million in the first week.

But sales aren't the only data metric that the state has monitored since the change. The Maryland Department of Health has monitored the public health impact of legalization. In November 2024, the department launched the Maryland Cannabis Public Health Data Dashboard. The tool provides data on emergency department visits, youth and adult use, calls to Maryland and D.C. poison centers, and substance use service utilization. 

Data shows a decrease in youth and adult cannabis use, and a sharp increase in emergency department visits involving cannabis between February 2023, and May 2023. The average emergency department visits involving cannabis per month was 5.4% higher in 2024 compared to 2023. 

ED visits were 84.49% higher in July 2023 when compared to July 2022, according to the dashboard. 

Recently, emergency department doctors have also seen a rise in Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome, an illness linked to chronic marijuana use. Symptoms include heavy vomiting, stomach pains, migraines, nausea, and diarrhea. 

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