SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — The Southaven Board of Aldermen has advanced plans to transform the city’s aesthetic and regulatory framework this week, approving a significant gateway beautification project while considering strict zoning regulations for potential medical cannabis dispensaries.
Proposed Regulations for Medical Cannabis Dispensaries
Mayor Darren Musselwhite and the board concentrated on a proposed ordinance that would confine medical marijuana facilities to dispensaries located exclusively within the city’s Commercial Medical District, contingent on the city’s decision to adopt the state’s medical cannabis law enacted in 2022.
The draft ordinance, presented by City Attorney Nick Manley, establishes a “time, place, and manner” regulatory structure. If passed, the city would permit only dispensaries, explicitly prohibiting cultivation, processing, research, and transportation facilities within city limits.
According to the proposal, dispensaries would incur a $2,000 application fee and a $100 annual renewal fee. Operating hours would be restricted to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Initially, discussions focused on a Monday through Friday schedule, but board members requested changes to permit operations seven days a week.
A substantial portion of the discussion revolved around the types of structures permitted for dispensaries. Board members inquired whether the city could mandate that dispensaries be situated in standalone buildings rather than strip malls. Manley cautioned against such requirements, emphasizing 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 informed the board, highlighting the necessity for reasonable restrictions within the zoned district to avoid legal challenges regarding “intractability.”
No final vote was conducted on the cannabis ordinance, as the board agreed to review the draft and consider suggested revisions before any further action.
I-55 Gateway Beautification Project Approved
While regulatory discussions are ongoing, the board has unanimously approved a new beautification initiative designed to enhance the city’s entrance at the Interstate 55 and Stateline Road interchange.
This project, led by Mayor Musselwhite, includes 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 tribute to the original Southaven High School Chargers school colors.
“We want to pay tribute again to our original part of our city,” Musselwhite stated. “That’s the reason for the orange and blue design.”
The overpass will showcase a more traditional navy blue and white design displaying the text “Southaven Established 1980,” easily visible to traffic entering Mississippi from Tennessee.
“Our goal was to improve the first impression when you leave the state of Tennessee on Interstate 55 and enter Mississippi,” Musselwhite added.
The approved contracts allocate approximately $145,000 for the sound barrier wall implementation and $61,600 for the overpass mural. This funding will be sourced from the city’s existing beautification budget. A third phase, involving a historical collage on the city court building, has been postponed to a future budget cycle.
