Medical marijuana, City Transportation Services & Landscaping revisions highlight “Coffee with Planners” session

Medical marijuana, city transportation and landscaping were the main topics of discussion in a “Coffee with Planners” session on Thursday.

RAPID CITY, SD – Rapid City residents raised concerns and asked city officials to answer their questions during a “Coffee with Planners” session Thursday morning.

Medical cannabis, which became legal in South Dakota on Thursday, was the hot topic.

The city says it is waiting for the key elements of the new program to be clarified to help officials know what can be governed and how. After clarification by the state, the city will examine how it will allow the use and sale of medicinal cannabis.

“We’ll see what the state comes up with,” said Vicki Fisher, Rapid City’s interim director of community development. “We may need to make a change if something has been neglected, but for now we want to be prepared so that the city is ready to give approval when this all goes into effect.”

Fisher also says the upcoming South Dakota Supreme Court ruling regarding recreational marijuana must be a priority for planners.

Once the plans become clear, the city may need to make changes and cover all of its bases.

“We might check out recreational marijuana around the corner. Wherever we allow these uses for medicinal cannabis, we must anticipate that over time this could be turned into recreational, all of which is probably a major concern, “Fisher said.

Other topics at Thursday’s meeting included urban transport services and landscaping revisions.