Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Manatee County - As numerous other local jurisdictions have done, the Manatee County Commission on Tuesday unanimously imposed a six-month moratorium on medical marijuana processing and dispensing facilities so it can decide how to regulate the businesses.
"We're not banning marijuana," county planner Fred Goodrich said. "What we're asking for is time to do it right."
Since 71 percent of Florida's voters approved medical marijuana in the Nov. 8 election, counties and municipalities throughout the state have imposed moratoriums to give themselves time to determine where marijuana-related businesses should be allowed or prohibited.
The constitutional amendment approved by the electorate takes effect Jan. 3. The Florida Department of Health will then have six months to devise state regulations pertaining to how medical marijuana will be authorized by physicians and dispensed.
The ordinance calls for a 180-day period in which the county will not "accept, process or approve any application relating to the establishment or operation of a medical marijuana dispensing organization or medical marijuana treatment center."
The voter-approved constitutional amendment specifically mentions cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and other conditions but also allows physicians to recommend marijuana for treatment of other ailments.
The Bradenton City Council will conduct a final public hearing on its six-month moratorium Wednesday morning.
Other jurisdictions in the Sarasota-Manatee region have adopted similar measures.
North Port recently limited dispensaries within that city to two, one east of Sumter Boulevard and another west of Sumter. It also imposes zoning restrictions and a 1,500-foot distance from churches, schools, day care centers and another dispensary.
The city of Sarasota imposed a nine-month moratorium. Longboat Key and Venice adopted year-long waiting periods while those municipalities also get regulations in place.
In 2014, when a medical marijuana referendum was on the statewide ballot but failed, Sarasota County adopted restrictions in case it passed. Those rules require medical marijuana establishments to obtain special exceptions to operate in certain zoning districts.
At that time, Palmetto adopted a law restricting dispensaries to an industrial zone.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Manatee County Adopts Medical Marijuana Moratorium
Author: Dale White
Contact: (941) 361-4800
Photo Credit: Rich Pedroncelli
Website: Herald-Tribune
"We're not banning marijuana," county planner Fred Goodrich said. "What we're asking for is time to do it right."
Since 71 percent of Florida's voters approved medical marijuana in the Nov. 8 election, counties and municipalities throughout the state have imposed moratoriums to give themselves time to determine where marijuana-related businesses should be allowed or prohibited.
The constitutional amendment approved by the electorate takes effect Jan. 3. The Florida Department of Health will then have six months to devise state regulations pertaining to how medical marijuana will be authorized by physicians and dispensed.
The ordinance calls for a 180-day period in which the county will not "accept, process or approve any application relating to the establishment or operation of a medical marijuana dispensing organization or medical marijuana treatment center."
The voter-approved constitutional amendment specifically mentions cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and other conditions but also allows physicians to recommend marijuana for treatment of other ailments.
The Bradenton City Council will conduct a final public hearing on its six-month moratorium Wednesday morning.
Other jurisdictions in the Sarasota-Manatee region have adopted similar measures.
North Port recently limited dispensaries within that city to two, one east of Sumter Boulevard and another west of Sumter. It also imposes zoning restrictions and a 1,500-foot distance from churches, schools, day care centers and another dispensary.
The city of Sarasota imposed a nine-month moratorium. Longboat Key and Venice adopted year-long waiting periods while those municipalities also get regulations in place.
In 2014, when a medical marijuana referendum was on the statewide ballot but failed, Sarasota County adopted restrictions in case it passed. Those rules require medical marijuana establishments to obtain special exceptions to operate in certain zoning districts.
At that time, Palmetto adopted a law restricting dispensaries to an industrial zone.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Manatee County Adopts Medical Marijuana Moratorium
Author: Dale White
Contact: (941) 361-4800
Photo Credit: Rich Pedroncelli
Website: Herald-Tribune
