MyrtleBeachSC News sat down with Paul Gable of the GrandStrandDaily today to discuss this coming Thursday’s S.C. Supreme Court hearing of the City of Myrtle Beach overlay district trial versus downtown merchants.
In August 2018, Myrtle Beach City Council members decided to ban the sale of CBD edibles in shops along Ocean Boulevard by a vote of 5-2. The products are all legal. The products can legally be purchased anywhere else in the city, as well as, anywhere nationally.
The Supreme Court will decide if a city has the rights to make such a decsion.
THE BACKDROP
The ban on the sale of CBD edibles affects stores along Ocean Boulevard from 6th Avenue South to 16th Avenue North.
CBD was previously among the top items sold by these merchants. Some evidence suggests that CBD can help with conditions such as pain, arthritis, inflammation, and sleep disorders. Some of these conditions are more prevalent among older populations. As such, (retirement age) Myrtle Beach tourists and local are among the top clients who purchase these products.
The city has acquired over $30 million in high value real estate in this same area. It desires to buy more land in the area in an effort to redevelop the entire downtown.
The city is also seeking a private investor to partner with the city in a public-private partnership along Ocean Boulevard in this same district.
The city charges these merchants a 1% downtown mid tax to assist the city in these property acquisition efforts.
SHOULD THE CITY PREVAIL
If the City of Myrtle Beach prevails in this hearing, any city in S.C. will then be legally able to outlaw any legal product in any district they deem appropriate.
Examples: Mount Pleasant, S.C. could outlaw Pepsi products from being sold in the entire town. Florence, S.C. could outlaw Coca Cola products on the west side of the town or east side of the town.
THE STATE OF S.C. IS WATCHING
This City of Myrtle Beach case is a landmark S.C. Supreme Court decision affecting every municipality in the state.
Every merchant, every resident and every city will be tuned in.
CONCLUSION
In his comments above, viewers can also hear Paul Gable’s comments on the Overlay, the Murdaugh History, as well as, State and County politics this week.