DOVER — Levy Court will consider Tuesday night a lease that could bring the first medical marijuana dispensary to Kent County.

Compassionate Care Research Institute Inc. wants to lease the former Monster Racing property at 26 Starlifter Ave. to use as an medical marijuana facility. The New Jersey-based nonprofit corporation will produce and dispense marijuana to people who have prescriptions at the confined facility.

The site is in the 115-acre Kent County Aero Park industrial park off Horsepond Road. The item was introduced during Levy Court’s April 5 meeting.

Brad Eaby

“We’re going to vote on whether or not we want to lease the building to the tenant,” said Levy Court Vice President Brad Eaby.

“I support the idea. From my research, the facility will help those in need and is very beneficial to those who have illnesses that call for them to use medical marijuana.”

Delaware’s first medical marijuana dispensary, First State Compassion Center in Wilmington, opened last year.

Medicinal marijuana is regulated through the Department of Health and Social Services with regulations reserving the prescription of marijuana to a list of specific conditions, such as HIV/ AIDS, cancer-related pain and treatment side effects, Lou Gehrig’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

Also included are other chronic or debilitating medical conditions which have not responded to previously prescribed treatment, or treatments that produce serious side effects.

“There are a lot of regulations with the use of medical marijuana,” Mr. Eaby said.

“I have faith that the building will be used for what it’s supposed to be used for.”

County Economic Development Director James Waddington said at the April 5 meeting the lease would be for two years.

“Having a short-term lease is the appropriate approach,” he said.

“We don’t want to tie it up with a long-term lease and talking with someone at the company, he indicated two years is probably the maximum amount of time they would want to be there.”

Brooks Banta

Levy Court President Brooks Banta supported the potential lease as well.

“The building is available and we could use the revenue,” Mr. Banta said. “The building has been requested and I think it will work out fine.

“The number of patients with cancer or different illnesses uses medical marijuana and it increased their quality of life from my research. I support the facility.”

But Commissioner Glen Howell said he will vote against the lease.

“I’ve been against marijuana for so long and I know the fad is to use it for medical purposes, but I’m not comfortable with this at all,” Mr. Howell said during the April 5 meeting.

“I’m not going to go along with this. I’m not going to vote for it.”

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Kent County Administrative Complex at 555 Bay Road.