Council advances cannabis ordinance to next step; one councilmember objects to buffer absence

Austin City Council moved forward on a proposed cannabis ordinance and advanced the measure for the next stage of consideration, but at least one council member objected to the current draft.

Council voted to direct staff to prepare the ordinance and then proceeded with the ordinance's first reading. During the first-reading vote, the councilmember at large, identified in the meeting transcript as "Council member at large Austin," voted no and said the ordinance should have included buffer requirements; the chair said the item will be carried forward to the next meeting.

Why it matters: Establishing a local cannabis ordinance sets the city’s local permitting and land‑use parameters for cannabis-related businesses. Council members raised procedural questions and differences about whether buffer zones around sensitive uses should be included in the ordinance's initial draft.

What council heard: A council member said they had missed prior discussions and did not see buffer language in the draft. Another council member confirmed the version before council was the original draft without the buffer parameters. After debate, council approved the motions to prepare and take up the ordinance for first reading; the first-reading vote included a single recorded “nay.” The transcript does not include text of the ordinance nor specific buffer distances.

Council action: The motion to prepare the ordinance passed and the ordinance was advanced at first reading with a recorded no vote from the council member at large. Council did not change the draft to add buffers at this meeting.

Next steps: The ordinance will return to a future meeting for further consideration; staff will follow the council’s direction to prepare the draft ordinance materials.

Ending: Council advanced the ordinance while noting at least one member preferred additional buffer language.