Councilman proposes easing city pot site restrictions

Las Vegas Councilman Bob Coffin offered amendments Wednesday to make it easier to site medical marijuana operations and said he’ll offer even more.

“I’m trying to respond to the complaints that arose during three public hearings,” he said. The zoning ordinance was written by staff to reflect the most conservative approach in placing medical marijuana facilities because the council was divided, he said.

“They’ve made it impossible to do business,” Coffin said. The council will revisit the proposal and any others on May 21.

Many of Coffin’s proposals aim to align city zoning and state law concerning how close to schools and churches medical marijuana facilities could be. He also wants to make it possible to locate them on Las Vegas Boulevard and on Fremont Street east of 8th Street.

Another controversial bill regarding sale of package liquor on Fremont Street Experience is scheduled to be heard May 21. Fremont Street Experience managers want to limit sale of package liquors, contending alcohol problems result from access to inexpensive liquor in bulk. Sellers of packaged liquors oppose the move.

A 2013 study identified downtown problems, leading to a curfew. Other changes have been slow to win approval.

Coffin said the problems downtown include the “bums, hustlers and con artists hustling our tourists,” and said the problems are shifting to Fremont East.