Kent County may soon be getting its first medical marijuana dispensary.
Levy Court approved an agreement Tuesday that allows New Jersey-based medical marijuana dispensary Compassionate Care Research Institute Inc. to lease space at the Kent County Aero Park in Dover.
Commissioner Brad Eaby - who is running for Lt. Governor - voted for the agreement, saying medical marijuana is an effective pain treatment for people with serious illnesses like cancer.
He said he had no reason to deny the lease agreement since medical marijuana is legal in the State of Delaware and dispensary rents should generate between $50,000 and $100,000 a year for the county.
Compassionate Care will lease a 10,000 square foot building at the air park that formerly housed Monster Racing. The county expects the facility to be used mainly for growing marijuana.
The State of Delaware, not the county, regulates where medical marijuana facilities can be located.
Eaby said he doesn't expect the state to dispute the site of this dispensary since it will be located in an industrial area away from both schools and churches.
Commissioner Glen Howell was the only dissenting vote. He says he doesn’t think it’s prudent for Kent County to be associated with marijuana.
Compassionate Care Research Institute Inc. must still get a dispensary license approved by the State of Delaware before it can open shop.
This would be the second dispensary to open in the state since Delaware lawmakers legalized medical marijuana in 2011.
