The Warrenton Board of Aldermen has rejected a recommendation to allow 24-hour drive-thru marijuana sales, instead suggesting they be limited to the same hours allowed for alcohol.
Director of Planning & Development Tim Burks said at the Tuesday, Sept. 15, Board of Aldermen meeting that under the proposed ordinance, marijuana dispensaries would still be prohibited from having customers inside the facility between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. Customers would be allowed to buy marijuana at the dispensary drive-thru, however, or by walking up to the window 24 hours a day.
Burks noted that the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of the code change on an 8-0 vote, with two members absent, at its Sept. 3 meeting. Commissioners did not discuss the proposal at any length, although resident Jess Sutton spoke during a public hearing prior to their vote.
Sutton said that, as a chronic pain patient, marijuana has enabled her to get out of bed.
“So don’t just think of this as a recreational drug, because I can guarantee you there’s more people using it medicinally here in town,” she said.
At their Sept. 15 meeting, however, aldermen questioned the 24-hour marijuana sales, saying they should be limited, even at the drive-thru, to the same hours as alcohol in Missouri, between 6 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.
“I’m not real sure I’m comfortable with the 24/7 on that,” said Alderman Larry Corder. “Personally, I think I’d like to see it amended to something similar to, if not the same as, alcohol sales in the community. I don’t see that this does anything to improve or help the community in any way.”
Alderman Josh Chandler said he agreed with Corder.
“I’d like to see it match the alcohol sales hours as allowed by state,” he said. “I don’t see why we need 24-hour business activity. We don’t have it really for anywhere else other than the gas stations.”
Alderman Roger Romaker asked if the proposed ordinance could be changed to reflect the same hours as alcohol sales. Mayor Eric Schleuter said the proposal should be tabled until the next meeting to allow revisions to be made.
The board voted 5-0 to table the proposed code amendment. Alderman Christine Wait was absent from the meeting.
