CAMDEN — Voters approved an ordinance for issuing local licenses to small-scale commercial marijuana cultivation facilities in Camden.

The vote was 694 in favor of the local licensing rules and 217 against.

Licensing procedure

The local Marijuana Business Licensing Ordinance establishes procedures and standards in a local license for adult use marijuana businesses already approved by Camden voters.

The ordinance covers application procedures, submission requirements and approval and operating requirements. It also covers inspections, procedures for revocation or suspension of the license and appeals and penalties for violating provisions of the license.

The Select Board will set application and licensing fees annually. The Board will also serve as the local licensing authority, similar to its role in licensing restaurant food and alcohol service.

Commercial growing approved in June

Camden residents approved small-scale commercial marijuana cultivation facilities by a vote of 326 to 171 in June.

Only the two smallest indoor and outdoor marijuana cultivation facilities defined by state law will be allowed in Camden. Zoning Board of Appeals review and a special exception, are required in order to obtain the local license for a growing facility.

Voters have approved growing facilities up to to 2,000 square feet of plant canopy outdoors, on lots of 5 acres or more, in the Rural 1 and 2, Coastal Residential and Village Extension zones. In those four zones, indoor growing is allowed on lots of 1.5 acres.

Indoor-only growing only is allowed in Highway Business, River Business, Industrial and Neighbor Service districts. In the Neighborhood Service District, only the smallest facility, defined by state law as up to 500 square feet of plant canopy, is allowed.

Commercial marijuana cultivation is prohibited within 500 feet of public and private schools, existing day care operations, the Camden Public Library, Harbor Park and much of the Snow Bowl.

Marijuana retail, manufacturing and testing have not been approved in Camden, and are not allowed in the town.

State licensing

The State Office of Marijuana Policy announced it will begin accepting applications Dec. 5 for commercial growing, manufacturing and retailing businesses, according to The Portland Press Herald.

Getting a license for a commercial marijuana cultivation business in Camden involves first obtaining a provisional license from the State Office of Marijuana Policy. The next step is applying for and obtaining the local license. The application for the local license comes from the Planning, Development and Code office. The final step involves going back to the State for issuance of the business license.