The city of Lewes became the last coastal city in Delaware to ban retail sales of marijuana with a unanimous vote of the mayor and city council on August 12.

However, the panel voted to continue to study and consider the cultivation, manufacturing and testing components of the legal recreational marijuana industry.

Delaware Marijuana Commissioner Rob Coupe will begin accepting online applications for 125 available licenses beginning Monday, August 19.

Mayor Andrew Williams said it was important that the city take action before that date.

“If we did nothing, someone could apply for a retail license, we would give it to them and they could sell marijuana or anything else,” Williams said.

The state has imposed a 15% sales tax on all marijuana products.

“It’s not clear what the city of Lewes would get out of it. We’re basically just giving the state an outlet to collect the 15%,” Williams said.

There are 60 licenses available for cultivation, 30 for manufacturing, 30 for retail and five for testing facilities.

Deputy Mayor Khalil Saliba said there may be economic opportunities for the city in the future.

“We have a base of scientists here, and if they wanted to set up a small testing laboratory, why not?” Saliba said.

The state legalized marijuana use for adults in 2023.

The ban in Lewes has no impact on marijuana use in the city.