SANFORD – Cal Akers and James Dube, who own Wisely Cannabis at 81 Industrial Ave. in south Sanford, marked the recent opening of their office with a ribbon cutting with the Sanford Springvale Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.

The company has been a member of the chamber for a couple of years, estimated chamber President Rick Stanley.

The Wisely Cannabis office opened about 12 days ago, debuting as the City Council is poised to hold a second reading on an ordinance that updates rules regarding offices for growers.

An office is defined as a location where those with medical marijuana prescriptions speak with a caregiver and make a purchase.

Proponents of such offices say they’re a safer way of conducting transactions than in public parking lots, which could pose a risk, both to the caregiver and the patient.

The Sanford City Council first approved offices a year ago, but changes in the state’s medical marijuana rules and concern that offices should not look like retail establishments, which are prohibited for medical marijuana in the city, resulted in a pause for a bit, Deputy Mayor Luke Lanigan said on Thursday.

“We froze it,” said Lanigan. “We wrote new rules.”

Akers and Dube had applied prior to the pause. Code Enforcement Officer Jamie Cole said two applications had been received, but so far, only the office operated by Akers and Dube has been approved.

Wisely Cannabis has been issued a temporary occupancy permit, and the company is subject to the same conditions proposed under the update, Cole said.

The office is located in a portion of a large industrial building, Sanford Industrial Estates, where Akers and Dube grow medical marijuana on site.

Akers and Dube, chatting with Chamber of Commerce members on Thursday, said office consultations include conversations of the effect sought and ways to administer medical marijuana – whether it be by smoking, creams or  lotions, CBD and THC tablets or edibles.

New state rules for medical marijuana allow growers to sell among themselves. That means Akers and Dube, who produce hash rosin as well as cannabis that is smoked, can send the rosin to those versed in making topical lotions and the like, Akers said.

The Sanford City Council is poised to hold a second reading and vote to consider the amendments to the current medical marijuana ordinance, including an update to the offices section. A public hearing preceding the first reading, held in early June, drew no comment. The second reading and vote is expected to take place when the council meets at 6 p.m. in the third floor chambers at City Hall, 919 Main St. on July 9.

Under the proposed rules for offices, consultations between caregivers and patients must be by appointment, caregivers must keep a log, and the offices would be allowed only in the eight locations earlier designated as places where medical marijuana may be grown. The proposal includes the provision that offices must be no larger than 400 square feet, open displays are prohibited, and no signs other than a sign that identifies the street address are allowed.

Akers said the new rules are more restrictive than before – and Lanigan agreed, explaining that since the city has prohibited retail storefronts, offices should not look like them.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.