Council Member at Large Vincent Orange announced at the ANC 5C meeting on Tuesday, January 17th, Ward 5 will be host to five (5) medical marijuana cultivation centers and one (1) medical marijuana dispensaries. This deal was voted on unanimously by the City Council after David Catania and Phil Mendelson opposed emergency legislation that would have tried to reduce the number of medical marijuana centers in our Ward. Once again, City Council and the Mayor (who supported this action) have decided to place businesses that other Wards will not tolerate in our neighborhoods.
So, if you’re a home owner seeing economic development taking place in other parts of town and not as fast in ours, do something about it. It is because for so long many have failed to let our elected officials that we care, we are involved and we vote that our neighborhoods are neglected. So if you’re as mad about the City Councils actions, there are two things you can do:
- Email The Mayor and City Council Member and let them know you’re mad.
- Ask the City Council know that you expect them to support legislation that would put a moratorium on strip clubs in Ward 5. Strip clubs that were moved because of the new baseball stadium are looking to relocate in Ward 5.
Ward 5 already has two waste stations, multitude of social programs, homeless shelters, strip clubs and soon five medical marijuana cultivation centers and a marijuana dispensary. We don’t need any more of those businesses in our Ward.
Council Members
Office of Chairman Kwame R. Brown
Charles Mason
Director, Constituent Services
(202) 724-8032
cmason@dccouncil.us
Office of Councilmember David Catania
Michele Molotsky
Director of Scheduling and Constituent Services
(202) 724-7772
mmolotsky@dccouncil.us
Office of Councilmember Phil Mendelson
Celeste Duffie
Constituent Services Representative
(202) 724-8064
cduffie@dccouncil.us
Office of Councilmember Michael Brown
Carol Sadler
Constituent Services Specialist
202-724-8198
csadler@dccouncil.us
Office of Councilmember Vincent Orange
Mark Long
Director, Community Outreach
(202) 724-8174
mlong@dccouncil.us
Bates Area Civic Association 
Thank you for making this so easy by putting all the information in one place.
One question I have is: Why do we have to have ANY medical marijuana dispensaries? If a perscription is required, why can’t it be sold through the regular drug stores, instead of concentrating all of these types of buyers in one place – making them targets?
Can we get a group together demanding a moratorium on churches in the ward? There are already too many, and I find them personally offensive.
I agree. There is no separation of church and state. Churches are allowed to park illegally, park in bus stop lanes, and create chaos in neighborhoods and our streets while law enforcement and politicians fail to regulate them.
Margaret – great question. The reason being that cultivation of marijuana has to take place and also because marijuana consumption is still a federal offense, DEA regulated pharmacies cannot dispense marijuana in herbal form.
Digging a little, I found the ventureforth application and it says the n.cap shop is going to be located in one of Brian Brown’s properties in 1334/1336 . With the 10+ SOME owned properties on O St and North Cap, it’s pretty clear who their target audience is.
Click to access SCAN+15.pdf
Some most interesting stuff regarding the school distances
Page 9 states the business ‘may not be located w/in 300ft of a preschool, primary or secondary school, or rec center’
Page 8 shows a measurement to CAPCS on P St of 773′. The new Dunbar is a lot closer than 773′ after the move (not 300) and ARE which I believe runs a preschool on the unit block of P st is even closer.
We need to really get on the City Council and ANC to block this. Without a Council Member, it will be up to us to fight these issues.