Rehoboth Beach
Questions remain after Rehoboth Beach marijuana ban
Prohibits smoking, selling weed within town limits
Want to light up in Rehoboth Beach, Del.? If you want to smoke a joint, you’re out of luck.
Rehoboth Beach’s mayor and Board of Commissioners voted last week to ban the smoking of cannabis on public property within the city’s 1.6-square-mile limits – despite the possession of cannabis being legal in Delaware. One commissioner, Tim Bennett, abstained, while all others voted for the ban. The city took advantage of a provision that allows local governments to ban its sale.
The mayor and commissioners cited cannabis’ health benefits as the primary reason, noting that the Food and Drug Administration has only approved cannabis-derived medications for rare seizures and researchers’ warnings that cannabis use or exposure can harm adolescents’ brain development, harming their memory, learning coordination, reaction time, and judgement. Commissioner Jay Lagree added a comment from a resident as further proof: A mall in Williamsburg, she said, had turned into a no-go zone for her after a cannabis store set up shop. Now, it’s filled with “unsavory” people, Lagree summarized.
After banning smoking marijuana in public places, the Rehoboth Beach Board of Commissioners and mayor Stan Mills went ahead with a ban on recreational cannabis sales in Rehoboth. Dewey Beach and Ocean City have already banned recreational cannabis stores, the mayor pointed out, so it is important to follow suit.
“I would not want them to be able to say, ‘Oh just go a quarter mile north to Rehoboth Beach and they’ll take care of your needs,’” he said.
“Raise parking to $10 an hour,” Bennett, the commissioner, joked.
“Outside the dispensaries,” Mills said and laughed.
A cannabis business manager couldn’t convince the officials otherwise. Columbia Care General Manager Laurie Golem said that the business has served 15,000 patients up and down Delaware and provides 100 jobs for Delawareans.
She also claimed three quarters of consumers buy cannabis to improve their health, treating disorders like insomnia and anxiety and providing pain relief. The Blade was unable to find that study, but a study commissioned by cannabis retailer Curaleaf found that around half of all adults polled had used cannabis before. Of those that had used cannabis before, it reported, more than 90% would consider using it for wellness and health. The study polled 2,000 Americans, though it is not clear how respondents were selected. It did not respond to the Blade’s questions.
But can the city enforce the ban on smoking weed? When a resident asked that question at a July meeting, he did not get a direct answer. Commissioner Toni Sharp noted that the city already has enforcement issues, but the new city manager was stepping up to the plate to fix it.
Commissioner Sharp signaled tepid opposition to the bill, saying she didn’t want to pass any legislation that burdened a police department missing half of its cadets, four dispatchers, and three full-time officers.
“I believe we have our hands full here in Rehoboth with issues that we would like to improve and we may steer clear of this,” she said.
Still, about a month later, she voted to pass the ban on smoking weed in public places. After publication, the city told the Blade that it had arrested or cited 159 people for cannabis possession since January 2021. It did not provide statistics on the number of people written up for smoking cannabis or tobacco on public property.
Adding to the challenge of enforcing the city code might be the Delaware Supreme Court’s 2021 decision in Juliano v. State that the smell of cannabis is not sufficient cause to arrest a person on suspicion of violating the law. Whether this applies to this situation isn’t clear, though, because police are already banned from arresting people for civil violations like smoking weed in a no-smoking area. Rehoboth’s police department first told the Blade through a city spokesperson that it was unfamiliar with the case and the city’s police chief did not respond to the Blade’s call. After publication, Lt. Jaime Riddle said in a statement that the case doesn’t apply because the case only applies to arrests, not stops.
“The odor of marijuana coming from a person who is smoking it, remains probable cause to conduct a stop as it remains illegal to smoke marijuana in public,” Riddle wrote.
People who violate smoking bans are charged $25 under current city laws, but if they challenge their conviction in court and lose, they are on the hook for $75 – the city tacks on another $50 for court fees. The city could even seek further punishment for the person, city law states.
The sale of alcohol and tobacco, though, remain legal despite mounds of evidence about their harm, including risks of cancer, heart disease, and more. When Commissioner Tim Bennet rhetorically asked whether the town would ban alcohol and tobacco stores (it can’t), Lagree joked that the city “would love to, but it’s probably not going to happen.”
The ban on cannabis has happened, though. Rehoboth officials weren’t swayed by cannabis activist Zoë Patchell, who said the ban would at best starve the city of much-needed tax money, or at worst shove demand underground.
“Banning legal licensed regulated cannabis businesses within town limits will make it less safe for both communities and consumers and shuts the door on economic agricultural and small business development, ensuring that those opportunities remain in the hands of the illicit market,” the registered lobbyist told the commissioners and mayor.
The law does allow Rehoboth’s handful of CBD shops to do business, so the ban won’t force any businesses to close. Still, the law passed with little fanfare. Not even Patchell’s group, the Delaware Cannabis Advocacy Network, posted anything on social media. The commission went on with its daily business instead.
“Thank you all for being here and speaking up,” Mills, the mayor, said. “With that we’re going to move on to the third item of old business.”
Rehoboth Beach
CAMP Rehoboth’s Sunfestival to feature comedy, DJs, auction
Annual Labor Day fundraiser a highlight of summer at the beach
CAMP Rehoboth is preparing for a weekend of celebration and fundraising, featuring comedians, auctions, and DJs. Proceeds will support future projects essential to the LGBTQ community center’s work in Delaware.
CAMP Rehoboth will host its annual Sunfestival Labor Day celebration from Aug. 31 through Sept. 1 at the Rehoboth Convention Center.
The weekend kicks off with an auction featuring global travel packages, performances by popular gay comedian Joe Dombrowski, and music from renowned DJ Robbie Leslie of Studio 54 fame, alongside gay circuit party DJ Joe Gauthreaux.
Auction items include a seven-day stay at the four-star Westin Paris-Vendôme, a nine-day all-inclusive LGBTQ Prague and Danube river cruise, a “Choose Your Own Cruise for Two” on Avalon Waterways with itineraries in Europe, Asia, or Southeast Asia, a seven-day 2025 Puerto Vallarta LGBT Experience for two during high season at Almar Resort, and a “Dine Around the World Without Leaving Rehoboth Beach” dinner package featuring gift certificates to 13 local restaurants, valued at $1,900.
In addition to the various worldly excursions, the auction will also feature an electric bike and artwork created by one of CAMP Rehoboth’s co-founders Murray Archibald.
Proceeds from the auction, comedy show, and dance party will go toward funding CAMP Rehoboth, dedicated to fostering inclusivity and providing support through specialized programs, events, and advocacy. Its mission is to create a positive environment for residents and visitors alike, promoting equality and well-being for all.
CAMP Rehoboth supports the Delaware LGBTQ community through various arts and cultural programs, health and wellness efforts (including mental health resources and HIV/STI testing), and LGBTQ community building.
Dombrowski performs Aug. 31 with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. The Sept. 1 “A Night of Dance” kicks off at 7 p.m. until 1 a.m. featuring DJ Robbie Leslie and DJ Joe Gauthreaux. Various ticket packages are available. Tickets for the comedy show start at $50 and tickets for the dance party start at $70.
For more information on the weekend’s events and tickets, visit camprehoboth.org and tickets can be purchased at give.camprehoboth.org/events/sunfestival-2024.
Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Beach getting two new commissioners
Suzanne Goode, Craig Thier prevail in weekend election
Rehoboth Beach, Del., held an election for two soon-to-be-open seats on its Board of Commissioners on Saturday. Suzanne Goode and Craig Thier are Rehoboth’s newest Commissioners-elect.
The election was held at the Rehoboth Convention Center. Thier, a 22-year resident of Rehoboth received the most votes with 611, with Goode following right behind with 521 votes. Rachel Macha received 448 and Mark Saunders 489 votes. Saunders was the only LGBTQ candidate running in the election.
In total 1,147 people sent in ballots for this election with 652 cast in person and 495 sent by absentee ballot. Current commissioners Toni Sharp and Tim Bennett did not seek re-election, triggering the election.
Thier and Goode will be sworn in during the Sept. 20 commissioners meeting.
For more information, visit the city of Rehoboth Beach’s website at cityofrehoboth.com.
Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Beach to elect two new commissioners Aug. 10
Sharp, Bennett not seeking re-election
Rehoboth Beach will elect two new commissioners on Aug. 10.
The Rehoboth Beach Board of Commissioners will have two new members to replace Toni Sharp and Tim Bennett. Four candidates are running to replace Sharp and Bennett, as neither filed for reelection.
Suzanne Goode, Rachel Macha, Craig Thier, and Mark Saunders are running for the two open seats.
Mark Saunders is the only candidate who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ community. Saunders was formerly a Realtor, has owned property in Rehoboth with his husband since 2005, and has been a full-time resident since 2013 according to his open letter to The Cape Gazette.
Saunders has some experience in local leadership, acting as president-elect during COVID-19 for the Rehoboth Beach Homeowners’ Association, and later becoming president for the next two years. He also has experience serving on the Rehoboth Board of Adjustment.
Saunders’s goals include establishing a “reasonable and sustainable balanced budget” for Rehoboth’s business owners and residents and advocating for more full- and part-time residents in the city.
The other candidates for the seats have a range of experience in the Rehoboth area. Susanne Goode has made a career in economic analysis for private firms and government agencies, including for the Executive Office of the U.S. President. Goode also has done local volunteer work with the Parent Teacher Association.
Goode said her goals for Rehoboth Beach include preserving the beaches, controlling government spending, and raising revenue.
Rachel Macha is also running for the board of commissioners. Macha brings extensive experience working with the Rehoboth local government. She has served on numerous boards, including on the Rehoboth Beach Planning Commission from 2019 to 2022, Rehoboth Beach Plant, Shade and Tree Commission from 2018 to 2020, as well as the Rehoboth Beach Main Street board of directors. In addition to her local government experience, Macha has 30 years of senior management experience for both public and private companies.
Macha highlighted in her open letter that she wishes to “leverage her business background” to make the commission and its decisions “run efficiently and effectively.” She explained she would do this by using “Common Sense Decision-Making,” to improve Rehoboth’s policies and processes as well as minimize unnecessary city spending.
Craig Thier is the last of the four running for the two open seats. Thier is a full-time resident of Rehoboth and has owned property in the area for the past 22 years. His local experience includes being a founding partner of Blue Line Planning, an institution that focuses on financial growth and planning, experience on a New Jersey school board, and serving on the Rehoboth Boardwalk and Beach Committee since 2021.
Thier has said his goals for Rehoboth include overhauling the annual budget by using two-year projected financial forecasts for devising future city plans, as well as more consistent checks on the city’s comprehensive development plan as actions go into motion.
Election day is Saturday, Aug. 10 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Rehoboth Convention Center located at 229 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, Del. A city spokesperson announced there are 1,664 registered voters in town. The two winners will join the commission in September and serve three-year terms.
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