Fort Worth Committee Advances Zoning for Medical Cannabis Retail and Cultivation Sites

Fort Worth is progressing with updated zoning regulations for medical cannabis operations, aiming to integrate state-licensed facilities into its land-use framework. Proposed changes would permit retail pickup locations in commercial districts. For cultivation, extraction, testing, packaging, processing, and distribution facilities, the city plans to zone them into medium industrial ("J") and heavy industrial ("K") districts. Notably, light industrial ("I") districts are being excluded from consideration for cultivation sites, a decision influenced by council member Deborah Peoples, who cited concerns about burdening and stigmatizing economically disenfranchised communities near such areas.

City staff are preparing a proposed ordinance amendment that would define "pharmacy" to encompass medical cannabis pickup locations, allowing them in various commercial zones. The comprehensive zoning changes will first be reviewed by the Fort Worth Zoning Commission before proceeding to the city council for final approval. This initiative specifically addresses state-licensed medical cannabis, not the broader legalization of marijuana. Developers and property owners in Fort Worth should monitor these zoning updates, as they will clearly delineate permissible locations for medical cannabis businesses, impacting site selection and development feasibility within commercial and industrial sectors.