The length of three school buses could one day separate a church, school or day care in Warrenton from a medical marijuana dispensary, under new rules approved by the city’s board of aldermen.The board voted May 7 to reduce a default buffer zone around school and church facilities from 1,000 feet down to 100 feet for dispensaries, as part of new planning and zoning regulations for medical marijuana-related businesses. Aldermen said the new setback distance matches the city’s regulation for liquor stores.Aldermen left in place the 1,000-foot buffer established by state law for facilities related to the production of medical marijuana products.These types of businesses will soon appear across Missouri after voters last year approved a constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana. The amendment allows local governments to enforce certain restrictions to protect public health and safety and prevent nuisances.The new zoning rules were unanimously approved by aldermen during their regular public meeting May 7. The rules describe where different types of medical marijuana facilities may be established in the city of Warrenton.In addition to not being allowed next to existing schools and churches, all marijuana-related facilities are prohibited within 100 feet of the Interstate 70 corridor and within 100 feet of Main Street.A dispensary would be allowed in any commercial area of the city, with certain areas requiring a conditional use permit from the board of aldermen. Dispensaries are prohibited in residential and industrial areas.Any business related to the three stages of medical marijuana production — cultivation, manufacturing and testing — would be confined to areas zoned for light industrial uses.Ward 2 Alderman Gary Auch said the city has already received inquiries about permitting medical marijuana facilities. Two possible business owners approached the board at a previous public meeting about the possibility of opening a dispensary on South East Street, outside the 100-foot buffer along Main Street.Another requirement of the new planning and zoning rules is that marijuana-related businesses will have to submit a site plan to the city to be approved before beginning operation. In addition to an outdoor plan required for all new businesses in the city, medical marijuana businesses must submit an interior plan describing the security of the building and ventilation system to contain odors.While discussing the new rules, Ward 1 Alderman Mike Shilharvey pointed out that the city is including several other restrictions to prevent medical marijuana facilities from becoming a nuisance to the local area. Aldermen also commented that the state of Missouri will only license a certain number of facilities in each region of the state, meaning Warrenton won’t be inundated with dispensaries or growers.Other restrictions in the city’s new medical marijuana rules include:• Dispensaries must be closed to the public overnight and may not sell or distribute products between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.• No marijuana may be smoked, ingested or consumed on the premises of any medical marijuana facility.• Outdoor operations or storage of materials, product or equipment is prohibited.• All production facilities must have adequate ventilation to contain odors. The city has the right to require a dispensary to install a ventilation system if the odor from the business becomes a nuisance.Marijuana