Sturgis City Council talking about medical marijuana

STURGIS, S.D.(KBHB) – The Sturgis City Council is discussing at length the many aspects of medical marijuana, including whether or not the city would own a dispensary.

At their meeting this week, council members discussed whether or not the city should be the one to operate the dispensary.

One option is to set the number of dispensaries within the community and charge a license fee.

Sturgis City Manager Daniel Ainslie says another option is for the city to maintain ownership of the dispensary license or lease it out to an independent, private business.

The city is also discussing where a medical marijuana dispensary could be located.

The city’s planning and zoning committee is expected to continue its work on drafting an ordinance at their July 13th meeting.

It is possible first reading of a medical marijuana ordinance could be heard at the July 19 council meeting.

City officials have revealed that in comparing sales of both medical and recreational marijuana in Colorado to the potential for sales in Sturgis, the city could possibly earn gross sales of $1.7 million annually.