A bill curtailing Delaware's counties from restricting retail marijuana establishments is a signature away from becoming law.
Senate Bill 75 cleared the Delaware House primarily on party lines Wednesday, as Delaware continues to struggle to implement marijuana establishments despite a law passed two years ago.
The largest hurdle has been in unincorporated Sussex County, where its council enacted limited zoning locations for the marijuana industry.
State Rep. Ed Osienski (D-Brookside) said that, along with several Sussex County towns voting to reject marijuana entirely, has made it tough for the 8 winners of a lottery to start retail marijuana shops to find space in the county.
"This bill is critical to the success of the recreational marijuana industry due to the inability of licensees to find locations to operate."
There were 30 licenses granted in that lottery, although county councils have not been the only holdup, as background checks of some ownership groups were delayed by the federal government due to concerns of the wording of Delaware's initial laws.
Under SB 75, councils are required to allow at least 12 hours of sales on weekdays, and 8 hours on Sundays, and that zoning laws cannot reject marijuana and cultivation facilities unless they are near places of worship, schools, parks, libraries, child care, of residential treatment facilities.
State Rep. Valerie Jones Giltner (R-Georgetown) noted the success of getting the Marijuana Control Act passed was based on Republican support, which she said becomes a bait and switch if the county councils lose their zoning controls.
SB 75 does not affect individual towns or cities ability to accept or reject marijuana facilities, which has had mixed results, but been primarily rejected by most places.
The House vote was 25yes-13no-1notvoting-1absent-1vacant, with only Middletown-area Democrat Sherae'a Moore crossing party lines with a no vote.
The bill heads to Governor Matt Meyer for his signature.
During the debate, it was discussed that Delaware could be very close to announcing when its first retail marijuana establishments might finally open.
