Protests of the delayed cannabis industry openings for recreational businesses
Proponents of the legal cannabis gathered in Dover to call for lawmakers to allow marijuana recreational businesses to open. 3/11/25
Business owners, users and lawyers of marijuana from Delaware were gathered in Dover on Tuesday morning to push the state government to allow businesses to open nearly two years after bad recreational drugs were legalized.
More than 40 people organized by the Delaware Cannabis Industry Association stayed out of the legislative room keeping signs and listening to speeches. They said the state is allowing the unsafe and unregulated marijuana to be bought and used while an industry regulated nationwide is lowered. Recreational marijuana, with increased use was legalized in 2023, but businesses still should not open their doors.
All licenses are given for now through the lottery. Now, all winners are being controlled, including the seven licenses that allow the conversion from medical marijuana to recreation, are being done. According to the Marijuana Commissioner’s office, the authorizations of finger printing by the Delaware State Police through the State Bureau of Investigation still need approval by the FBI. These fingerprints are part of the required criminal background control committed throughout a license.
Anydo winner of the lottery that passes current background checks will be given a conditional license. If they cannot become fully functional within 18 months, the license is likely to be removed. If they become operational, they are given an active license and can continue.
But patience is dressed in exquisite for business owners who want to get the industry and work. James Brobyn, CEO of Marijuana Business American Fiber Co., called on Governor Matt Meyer or empower the current commissioner Paul Hyland or elect another commissioner. Rob Coupe, the first state commissioner, withdrew before Meyer took office.
“This is literally the legal obstacles that should only be ignited by lighting,” Brobyn said outside the legislative room.
A spokeswoman for Meyer’s office said the Governor understands the urgency of the appointment of the other marijuana commissioner and that Meyer was a supporter of recreational and medical marijuana.
“Critical is critical that we choose the best person to lead the state program,” Meyer’s spokesman said. “Not only for those seeking to open businesses in Delaware, but for long -term communities of the fight against drugs and medical patients forced to live in the shadows for decades. We can and will do better in Delaware to ensure that we have an equal and flourishing marijuana industry.”
Initially, the plan to open the retail of the marijuana in Delaware was Spring 2025. That time came, and businesses have not been opened or converted. OMC said the decision to open existing medical businesses that applied for conversion licenses before the lottery winners will depend on anyone who is the other commissioner.
District and City Level Zoning the area shakes business owners
State law allows counties to regulate marijuana recreational industry, however they want without stopping it. The New Castle and Sussex counties have approved additional buffer zones about churches, schools and residences at the top of existing state barriers to businesses. Municipalities can completely stop it, and many cities on the beaches have done so.
At Sussex County, 3 mile buffer zones around the borders of the municipality, churches and schools and more have drowned marijuana businesses to a point where they cannot operate confidently in some district countries available.
Jen Stark, owner and director of processing at the medical marijuana dispensar at Farm in Felton and New Castle, lives in Bridgeville and cannot be opened inside or outside its municipal borders.
“All they have in Sussex for the retail are a piece of paper; it doesn’t mean anything,” she said.
Louise Shelton from New Castle was given a social capital cultivation license at New Castle County. She said finding a location in the circuit to operate is her biggest challenge. She is young in the industry and has had to grow the plant because she had positive effects on her family members, she said. Now, she cannot take anyone into the commercial real estate to help her find a location.
“We’re just in a cramp now,” Shelton said in Dover on Tuesday. “How do you give us licenses if you won’t take care of zoning?”
Shelton also has a social capital cultivation license at Sussex County, where she said she was disappointing. She said the main complaints have been about the wind and the use of marijuana, despite its business simply growing the plant itself.
“Just because weeds are recreational does not mean that we can just walk the streets by smoking it,” Shelton said. “We know the laws and will adhere to them.”
Stark looked at Kent County’s regulations as a model for what the rest of the state should look like. Kent district is arranging where businesses can work, similar to beverage and tobacco businesses. Stark hopes the legislature will take another look at the zoning limitations permitted by the state law.
“I really hope they can write legislation and spend it through the room and the senate; otherwise, it will simply be colliding into the industry,” she said.
Winners of social capital license acquire in the same problems as open retail sales
Social capital licenses were intended to provide disproportionately affected areas from past drug -related implementation and individuals with past marijuana penalties a chance to enter the industry. Social capital applications came at a down rate of $ 1,000. Open applications cost $ 5,000 and micro -level applications cost $ 3,000.
Conversion licenses were provided at $ 200,000 for cultivation and $ 100,000 per retail and production. The state made $ 4 million of them, which helps to finance social capital grants for business owners.
Darnell Martin from Wilmington said he plans to be in the next lottery for a social capital license. He said local governments are unfairly treating the marijuana recreational industry.
The Wilmington City Council recently adopted a three-month break for marijuana business licenses in the city as they understand the right zoning about businesses. Martin said they should understand because people have smoked marijuana for decades.
“They are treating it like it is the zombie’s apocalypse,” he said.
Shane Brennan covers New Castle County focusing on Newark and the surrounding communities. I arrive with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@delawareOnline.com. Follow @Shanebrennan36 to X, Once Twitter.