Southaven considers cannabis ordinance plan, beautification project
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — The Southaven Board of Aldermen moved forward with plans to reshape the city’s aesthetic and regulatory landscape this week, approving a major gateway beautification project while reviewing strict zoning drafts for potential medical cannabis dispensaries.
Mayor Darren Musselwhite and the board focused heavily on a proposed ordinance that would strictly limit medical marijuana facilities to dispensaries located solely within the city’s Commercial Medical District, if the city decides to opt in to the state’s medical cannabis law approved in 2022.
The draft ordinance, presented by City Attorney Nick Manley, outlines a “time, place, and manner” regulatory framework. If approved, the city would opt in only for dispensaries, explicitly banning cultivation, processing, research, and transportation facilities within city limits.
Under the proposal, dispensaries would be subject to a $2,000 application fee and a $100 annual renewal fee. Operating hours would be limited to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. While the initial draft discussed a Monday through Friday schedule, board members requested revisions to allow operations seven days a week.
Significant discussion centered on the types of structures allowed. Board members questioned if the city could require dispensaries to be located in standalone buildings rather than strip malls. Manley advised caution, noting that state law prohibits local ordinances from making operations “impractical” or effectively impossible.
“You can’t make it where it is not allowed for dispensaries to be authorized in that area,” Manley told the board, noting that restrictions must be reasonable within the zoned district to avoid legal challenges regarding “intractability.”
No final vote was taken on the cannabis ordinance; the board agreed to review the draft and suggested revisions before taking action.
I-55 Gateway Beautification Approved
While regulatory talks continue, the board voted unanimously to approve a new beautification project designed to enhance the city’s entrance at the Interstate 55 and Stateline Road interchange.
The project, spearheaded by Mayor Musselwhite, involves painting murals on the sound barrier walls and the overpass infrastructure. The design for the sound barrier walls features an abstract orange and blue pattern, paying homage to the original Southaven High School Chargers school colors.
“We want to pay tribute again to our original part of our city,” Musselwhite said. “That’s the reason for the orange and blue design.”
The overpass itself will feature a more classical navy blue and white design with the text “Southaven Established 1980,” visible to traffic entering Mississippi from Tennessee.
“Our goal was to start… to improve the first impression when you leave the state of Tennessee on Interstate 55 and you come into Mississippi,” Musselwhite added.
The approved contracts include approximately $145,000 for the sound barrier wall execution and $61,600 for the overpass mural. The funds will be drawn from the city’s existing beautification budget. A third phase of the project, involving a historical collage on the city court building, has been deferred to a future budget cycle.
