Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Lee County - Estero and Bonita Springs have joined other Southwest Florida cities that are putting the brakes on having medical marijuana dispensaries.
This comes after the November election saw 70% voter approval of Amendment 2, which legalizes medical use of cannabis.
It goes into effect on January 3rd but it could be a while before people who need medical marijuana can get it.
At their Wednesday meeting, the Bonita Springs council passed a six-month ban on medical marijuana dispensaries. This means people who need the drug would have to go elsewhere to pick up a prescription.
Bonita Springs resident Mari Beth Jones is all too familiar with the crippling effects of having cancer. She survived the disease twice and said medical marijuana helped her get through the struggle of chemotherapy.
"It curbs nausea, it helps you get through the day," Jones said.
If you need the drug badly enough, you go get it, she said.
"If it's a medical necessity, [patients] do it. I mean, driving somewhere is worth it if you have to have it."
The Bonita Springs council voted for the dispensary ban so they could address where the buildings would be allowed.
"What we want to do is to take the time, so everybody wins out of this," said Bonita Springs Councilman Fred Forbes.
A similar situation happened in Estero. However, residents there will have to wait a full year.
Leanne Vogt doesn't like that idea. She said her mother died from cancer, and it pained her to see her mom in agony from what could have been eased by medical cannabis.
"What if [lawmakers] did have cancer like my mom did? For them to take that kind of time, what about people that are in pain in their family?"
Should patients need a prescription, they might have to travel close to 30 minutes to fill it.
Charlotte County leaders also voted on a temporary ban. Amendment 2 is slated to go in effect January 3rd, but the Florida Department of Health has nine months to put rules into place.
An industry report released this week projects Florida will make more than $1 billion in medical marijuana sales over the next three years.
The report also predicts Florida will be one of the largest medical marijuana markets in the country because a large part of the population is older than 65.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Author: Staff
Contact: (239) 939-6223
Photo Credit: Thinkstock
Website: ABC 7
This comes after the November election saw 70% voter approval of Amendment 2, which legalizes medical use of cannabis.
It goes into effect on January 3rd but it could be a while before people who need medical marijuana can get it.
At their Wednesday meeting, the Bonita Springs council passed a six-month ban on medical marijuana dispensaries. This means people who need the drug would have to go elsewhere to pick up a prescription.
Bonita Springs resident Mari Beth Jones is all too familiar with the crippling effects of having cancer. She survived the disease twice and said medical marijuana helped her get through the struggle of chemotherapy.
"It curbs nausea, it helps you get through the day," Jones said.
If you need the drug badly enough, you go get it, she said.
"If it's a medical necessity, [patients] do it. I mean, driving somewhere is worth it if you have to have it."
The Bonita Springs council voted for the dispensary ban so they could address where the buildings would be allowed.
"What we want to do is to take the time, so everybody wins out of this," said Bonita Springs Councilman Fred Forbes.
A similar situation happened in Estero. However, residents there will have to wait a full year.
Leanne Vogt doesn't like that idea. She said her mother died from cancer, and it pained her to see her mom in agony from what could have been eased by medical cannabis.
"What if [lawmakers] did have cancer like my mom did? For them to take that kind of time, what about people that are in pain in their family?"
Should patients need a prescription, they might have to travel close to 30 minutes to fill it.
Charlotte County leaders also voted on a temporary ban. Amendment 2 is slated to go in effect January 3rd, but the Florida Department of Health has nine months to put rules into place.
An industry report released this week projects Florida will make more than $1 billion in medical marijuana sales over the next three years.
The report also predicts Florida will be one of the largest medical marijuana markets in the country because a large part of the population is older than 65.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Author: Staff
Contact: (239) 939-6223
Photo Credit: Thinkstock
Website: ABC 7
