
BROWNSVILLE — The often rancorous battle over recreational marijuana sales in Brownsville will continue, at least for a while.
On a 4-3 vote Tuesday evening, members of the City Council upheld a Planning Commission decision to deny the sale of recreational marijuana at the Green Cross medical marijuana dispensary at 221 West Bishop Way.
A standing-room-only crowd of more than 60 people filled the council chambers on the second floor of City Hall and much like prior meetings held over the last three years, supporters and opponents of marijuana were seemingly evenly divided.
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Voting to overturn the Planning Commission were Mayor Don Ware and councilors Carla Gerber and Mandy Cole. They based their votes on the fact that dispensary owners Randy Simpson and Gayle Ashford have met city ordinances concerning location and operation required for such a business.
But councilors Lynda Chambers, Mike Neddeau, Gary Shepherd and Doug Block voted no, based on language in the city code that such an operation could create an “adverse condition” in the community, which was the same reason given by the Planning Commission.
Top photo: © Chris Boswell | Dreamstime.com