A quiet stretch of Ritchie Highway in Pasadena has become ground zero in Anne Arundel County's latest cannabis fight, as neighbors push back against a proposed dispensary planned behind a row of homes. What started as one storefront controversy has now ballooned into a countywide zoning debate over how close cannabis shops should be allowed to sit to schools, churches, and family homes. The County Council is slated to weigh in with a final vote on July 6, 2026.
What Bill 29-26 Would Do
At the center of the argument is Bill 29-26, a dry-sounding piece of legislation with very real backyard consequences. The bill would spell out new conditional-use rules for licensed dispensaries, including minimum distances from certain sites and nearby houses.
As drafted, the ordinance would create a 500-foot buffer from pre-existing schools, playgrounds, libraries, and places of worship, along with a 100-foot setback from residential lot lines. It would also prohibit dispensaries from locating within a half mile (1,000 feet) of another shop. The County Council's legislative schedule lists a final vote on the measure for July 6, 2026, according to Anne Arundel County.
Pasadena Residents Say They Need Clear Rules
For Pasadena residents, the flashpoint is a proposed dispensary at 91 Ritchie Highway that they say would sit behind homes and close to both a church and an elementary school, as reported by CBS Baltimore. Neighbors have followed up with written testimony to the council, pressing for strict and predictable guardrails.
One resident, Jeffrey Kubik, wrote in his submission that "I am in support of Bill 29-26" and urged a 500-foot buffer to cut down on young people's exposure to cannabis-related advertising, according to Anne Arundel County. Supporters argue that clearly defined measurements would help both residents and businesses understand exactly where dispensaries can and cannot go.
Operators Warn Of Unintended Consequences
Dispensary operators see the same map very differently. They warn that layering on buffers from schools, churches, libraries, playgrounds, homes, and other dispensaries could shrink the list of viable storefronts to the point where small businesses are effectively locked out.
"I respectfully ask this council to reject bill 29-26," Vital Dispensary part-owner Brandon Davis told CBS Baltimore, arguing that the proposed rules would create barriers and delays for operators who are trying to open responsibly under existing regulations.
State Law Frames The Local Options
Hovering over the entire debate is Maryland's 2024 law on cannabis locations, which sets the outer limits of what counties can do. The statute allows political subdivisions to adopt reasonable zoning rules and lets counties increase the distance between dispensaries up to one-half mile, while also barring any ordinance that "unduly burden[s]" licensees, according to the Maryland General Assembly. That framework defines how far Anne Arundel County can go in tightening its local map.
What To Watch At The Vote
The July 6 council meeting is expected to draw neighbors and business owners ready to make last-minute appeals on both sides. If Bill 29-26 passes, it would take effect 45 days after becoming law, reshaping where dispensaries can open across Anne Arundel County.
In the end, how councilmembers balance concerns about schools, churches and backyards with the state's direction on cannabis siting will determine whether Pasadena's proposed Ritchie Highway shop is a one-off controversy or a preview of countywide rules.
