An October 14, 2015, Capital Gazette article reported that Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh has backed away from his proposed county ban on medical cannabis and instead offered amendments that has the support of four county council members.  As previously reported on Conduit Street, the county council is considering both the County Executive’s proposal and an alternative proposal offered by council members Chris Trumbauer, Andrew Pruski, and Council Chairman Jerry Walker.  From the Gazette article:

Owen McEvoy, Schuh’s spokesman, confirmed late Wednesday the county executive has agreed with four council members who support nearly a dozen changes to a bill that would have banned the growing, processing and dispensing of medical marijuana under every zoning provision. …

That eliminates large swaths of the county where businesses could operate. The amended bill would also require on-site armed security for growing facilities and does not allow window and counter displays of medical marijuana.

The article also noted that while supporters of the alternative proposal welcomed Schuh’s move from a total ban, there was concern that Schuh’s proposed amendments were still too restrictive:

[The alternative Trumbauer bill] would prohibit dispensaries from operating within 2,500 feet of each other and requires them to be 1,000 feet from all public and private elementary, middle and high schools.

Trumbauer, who pursued the legislation after the county executive announced his intent to ban operations, welcomed Schuh’s changes but said the county executive’s amendment appears too restrictive. Trumbauer said he may introduce amendments that offer a middle ground between the two bills.

The article stated that a public hearing on both bills will be held on Monday, October 19, but that a vote would likely be delayed until November 2 due to Schuh’s proposed amendments.